3 local men OK after 2 plane crashes

PALMER — Searchers looking for a downed plane in the Lake George area Friday ended up spotting a second downed plane with men in need of rescue.

Alaska State Troopers said in a press release that the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified of both crashes. All three survivors in the two crashes were brought back safely.

The Alaska Air National Guard said in a press release that at about 5:30 p.m. Friday their satellite picked up a signal from an emergency locator transmitter that had been activated somewhere near Lake George, near Knik Glacier in the Chugach Range.

The Air National Guard launched a Pavehawk helicopter with pararescuers onboard to find the transmitter.

On the way, though, they spotted a different crash with two survivors.

According to the press release, this second plane, a Piper PA-19, had experienced engine failure and pilot Lon Pogue, 55, of Palmer, executed an emergency crash landing on a riverbank close to Lake George.

His passenger, Steve Banse, 55, of Palmer, received minor cuts and bruises to his face, the Air National Guard reports. Pogue was not hurt.

According to Specialist Margaret J. Moonin with the Air National Guard, the Pavehawk was able to land in the area and the two men were taken aboard.

The rescuers then went looking for the original crash.

They didn’t have to go far — according to the Air National Guard, rescuers spotted a campfire and a man waving for their attention within a few miles of the first crash.

That man was Michael T. Rolston, 31, of Wasilla, troopers report.

Attempts to reach Rolston, Banse and Pogue failed as of press time.

According to the Air National Guard, Rolston’s Piper Super Cub crashed while landing not a half-mile from the site where Pogue’s plane went down. Moonin said Rolston had walked to a campsite where he had originally planned to spend that night.

The rescuers were again able to land their helicopter and brought Rolston aboard.

The helicopter’s three new passengers were taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center where Banse’s injuries were treated.

It’s been a somewhat busy summer for the Air Guard’s Rescue Coordination Center, Moonin said. At times, rescuers have flown multiple missions in a day.

Though she was not able to confirm if the men rescued Friday were out hunting, she said the fall has seen a lot of action for pararescuers as citizens head out into the woods scrambling to get their moose.