Float-plane crash in Alaska kills passenger, hurts pilot

By The Associated Press

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Coast Guard air crews and local volunteers reached the wreckage early Saturday morning and freed the pilot, Rex Maurer, 57, who was flown to Seattle for medical treatment at Harborview Medical Center, Alaska state troopers said.

A hospital spokeswoman said last night Maurer was listed in serious condition, but she would not comment on the nature of his injuries.

A passenger, Gary Hudson, 60, of Portland, died in the crash, troopers said.

Maurer, who has addresses in Issaquah and Kenai, Alaska, was flying a Piper PA-18 on floats, troopers said.

The Coast Guard said its Command Center in Juneau received an emergency satellite signal about 9 p.m. Friday reporting a possible distress in the Cold Bay area. Kenai flight services also reported an overdue plane at that time.

A Coast Guard C-130 airplane spotted an inverted airplane about 2:30 a.m.

The Cold Bay airport manager arranged a ground party to investigate the crash site a few miles away near Blinn Lake.

Cold Bay is on the west end of the Alaska Peninsula, 634 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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