Jeff Babcock and Charles Eric Benson

A pair of Valley men, Jeff Babock and Charles Eric Benson, died in a plane crash in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, Monday, May 27, 2019.

 Courtesy photo

WASILLA — A pair of Valley men are dead following a plane crash in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, Monday night.

Jeff Babcock and Charles Eric Benson both died in the crash. Both were Alaska-based employees for the National Park Service, according to a press released issued Tuesday evening. Babcock and Benson were on a personal trip, flying the plane from the Lower 48 to Anchorage. The plane crashed shortly after take-off at about 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Whitehorse International Airport, according to NPS officials.

“Jeff and Eric were two of our very best and the National Park Service and Alaska Region have suffered a terrible loss,” NPS Alaska Regional Director Bert Frost said in the release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Jeff and Eric, and we are heartbroken.”

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Prior to joining the park service, Babcock served for 23 years with the Alaska State Troopers, and retired as a captain in the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in 2004. He also flew for K2 Aviation for seven years, park service officials said.

Benson served for a combined 25 years in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. Benson joined NPS after retiring from the military, NPS officials said.

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