Deceased pilot identified as 25-year-old Ray Justen of Wasilla

A Saturday afternoon single-engine plane crash near Butte claimed the life of a Wasilla man.

Alaska State Troopers (AST) report the pilot and sole occupant, 25-year old Ray Justen was found dead upon troopers’ arrival. AST stated it received word of the crash at 2:48 p.m. According to reports, the Cessna 172 crashed on a river bed at Friday Creek and the Knik River. ATV riders in the area also responded to the scene as did a LifeMed helicopter from Wolf Lake.

Due to the area’s inaccessibility, AST and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) personnel were helicoptered to the crash site. Photos taken at the scene indicate a hard “pancake” landing and the craft was substantially damaged. NTSB investigator Mike Hodges said he, a Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) representative, and members of a rescue team were at the crash site Sunday.

“The plane was taken by helicopter to a secure hangar in Wasilla,” Hodges said. “We usually get a preliminary report out on the crash is 5-10 business days. It could take up to a year before we have a final report.”

AST reported Justen’s body was recovered and turned over to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage.

Justen was a 2009 graduate of Palmer High School, according to his Facebook page, and since 2011 had worked for CH2M Alaska, an engineering, construction and operations firm based out of Anchorage.