5 dead in Alaskan commuter plane crash

Alaskan authorities will resume efforts this morning – weather permitting – to access the site of a commuter plane crash that killed all five on board Thursday afternoon.

Alaska State Troopers confirmed the crash left no survivors, KTUU reported.

According to a press release issued by the troopers, the Yute Commuter Service plane was traveling from Bethel to Kipnuk with four passengers and a pilot.

Tim DeSpain, a spokesman for the troopers, said on Thursday evening that conditions in and around the crash site may hamper investigative and rescue or recovery efforts because of its rural nature about 12 miles south of Tuntutuliak, KTUU reported.

"It was relatively quick that the site was located," DeSpain told the TV station, adding, "but the challenges can definitely come in with the difficulty of getting to the site and actually having boots on the ground."

Allen Kenitzer with the Federal Aviation Administration's communications office told the Anchorage Daily News the plane was a Piper PA-32 and said both the FAA and National Transportation Board will investigate the crash.