Plane crashes in Talkeetna, California man dies

TALKEETNA -- The Alaska State Troopers received a report at approximately 8:13 p.m. Friday of a plane crash near Mile 163 Parks Highway.

Forestry personnel on the scene told troopers that the plane was badly burned and they were unable to determine a tail number for the plane.

On Saturday morning, troopers went to the crash sight, approximately seven miles east of the Parks Highway. A representative from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration joined troopers on the scene.

Troopers reported that the preliminary investigation revealed a 1968 single-engine Beechcraft, flown by John S. Collins, 62, of San Diego, Calif., had crashed into a hillside. Collins' remains were recovered from the aircraft and transported to Anchorage for autopsy.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.