Anvik Mourns Death Of Two Killed In Saturday Crash

The village of Anvik mourns the loss of a lifelong teacher and a veteran bush pilot, in Saturday night's crash. A family of four survived.

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By Alexis Fernandez

Story Created: Aug 15, 2011 at 7:05 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 16, 2011 at 1:09 PM AKDT

Troopers say six people were on board the Cessna 207 when it crashed on Saturday evening, 37 miles west of McGrath.

The plane had just taken off from McGrath, and was headed back to Anvik when the pilot tried to turn back, and crashed.

66-year-old veteran bush pilot Ernest Chase of Aniak, and longtime teacher, 52-year-old Julia Walker, did not survive the crash.

Walker has taught at the Blackwell School in Anvik for the last nine years, but she has been with the district for almost three decades.

The hour survivors of the crash include; Don and Rosemarie Evans, both 32-years-old from Anvik, and their children, 10-year-0old Donny, and 8-year-old McKenzie.

State Representative Alan Dick told us, both the pilot and longtime teacher, were pillars of the community.

"We're still recovering, we dont have words really to describe, really from the affects to that, its like losing a brother or sister," said Representative Alan Dick, R-Stony River.

The school in Anvik is now without three teachers. The school is expected to make a decision tonight on whether or not to postpone school.

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