Last survivors plucked from Knik Glacier

PALMER — The last two survivors of a plane crash on Knik Glacier were airlifted to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center this afternoon.

Donald Erbey of Palmer and Fred Lantz of Galveston, Texas, were the last two occupants of the downed plane who remained on the glacier as of this morning. Both were taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for evaluation this afternoon.

Erbey was piloting the plane with four members of the Lantz family aboard — Lantz, his wife, Mary Jan and their sons, David and Patrick — when the plane went down at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Everyone onboard survived the crash but the plane was not flyable. Weather hampered rescue attempts and kept helicopters at bay for most of the last few days. Rescuers instead had to ski to the crash site with provisions for the survivors.