Alaska's vast expanse and limited roads make planes the go-to way to get around.

        This was especially true for a small commuter plane flying from Unalakleet to Nome on a cold Thursday afternoon. The plane went missing just under an hour after takeoff and the wreckage was found the next day. The plane had 9 passengers and a pilot on board. Nine passengers and the pilot died in the crash.

        The plane was a single-engine turboprop.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        This crash is one of the deadliest in 25 years.

        The plane was located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Nome.

        The wreckage was found in the Bering Sea.

        The area was searched by local, state, and federal agencies.  They looked at large stretches of icy waters and miles of frozen tundra before finding the plane.

        Crews are working to recover the wreckage and remains before the weather gets even worse. The Bering Air plane was found the next day after an extensive search.

        The Bering Air plane was found the next day after an extensive search.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

        Radar data from the U. S. Civil Air Patrol showed the plane losing elevation and speed rapidly.

        No one knows why that happened.

        There were no distress signals from the plane. If a plane is exposed to seawater, an emergency locating transmitter sends a signal to a satellite, which then relays that message to the Coast Guard. No such messages were received by the Coast Guard.

        The plane was flying in an area that is not connected to the developed road system that serves the state's most populous region.

        Some high school teams fly to sporting events against rival high schools, and goods are brought to many communities by barge or by air.

        The plane was flying from Unalakleet. Unalakleet is a community of about 690 people about 150 miles (about 240 kilometers) southeast of Nome and 395 miles (about 640 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage.

        Nome is just south of the Arctic Circle and is known as the ending point of the 1, 000-mile (1, 610-kilometer) Iditarod.

        The plane was flying from Unalakleet to Nome. The plane was flying from Unalakleet. Unalakleet is a community of about 690 people about 150 miles (about 240 kilometers) southeast of Nome and 395 miles (about 640 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage.

        Unalakleet is a community of about 690 people about 150 miles (about 240 kilometers) southeast of Nome and 395 miles (about 640 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage. The village is on the Iditarod trail, route of the world’s most famous sled dog race.

        Nome is just south of the Arctic Circle and is known as the ending point of the 1, 000-mile (1, 610-kilometer) Iditarod.

        The plane was flying from Unalakleet to Nome.

        The plane was flying from Unalakleet to Nome. The plane was flying from Unalakleet. The plane was flying from Unalakleet to Nome. Nome is just south of the Arctic Circle and is known as the ending point of the 1, 000-mile (1, 610-kilometer) Iditarod.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

        The wreckage was found by helicopter.

A Deadly Accident in the Frozen North

Actions