Denali National Park and Preserve rangers have decided that safe recovery of the wreckage and passengers from the PA-18 aircraft that crashed on a tributary of the West Fork of the Yenta River on Aug. 9 is currently unattainable.
Over the past week, Denali National Park rangers made attempts to access the accident site through a series of five flights.
The rangers employed technical rope lowering techniques to navigate the rugged terrain, but each attempt encountered a formidable obstacle — significant overhead rockfall hazards that posed a threat to the rescue team.
In an effort to recover the remains of the pilot, Jason Tucker of Wasilla, and passenger, Nicolas Blace of Chugiak, rangers teamed up with TEMSCO helicopter pilots to explore the feasibility of using a mechanical “grabber” attached to a 450-foot-long line.
The equipment was tested at a Talkeetna gravel pit, but it was determined that utilizing the long-line method could endanger the helicopter pilot and spotter due to the uncertainties surrounding the weight and transportability of the wreckage, as well as the limited rotor clearance amidst steep, narrow terrain.
“With great empathy for the families of the deceased pilot and hunter, we have made the difficult determination not to attempt a recovery effort at this time. The steep and perilous terrain at the accident site would escalate the dangers to a level that is unacceptable, risking the lives of our dedicated rangers,” said Brooke Merrell, Denali Park superintendent.
If and when environmental conditions change, such as lower water volume or when the river freezes and allows access on the ground, the Park Service will consider another recovery attempt, the agency said.
