Orofino man dies in Alaska small plane crash

An Orofino man died in a small plane crash Friday 35 miles northeast of Shaktoolik, Alaska, according to Alaska Department of Public Safety.

At 11:48 a.m., Alaska State Troopers (AST) were notified of an SOS activation from an InReach device. It was reported that there had been a plane crash 35 miles northeast of Shaktoolik. The Cessna 180 aircraft was witnessed taking off but not climbing and then crashing, AST said.

Subsequent information was reported that both occupants of the aircraft were deceased. AST responded from Nome and recovered the two bodies from the crash site. Tentative identification of the deceased is Pilot Jim Tweto, 68, Unalakleet, Alaska, and passenger Shane Reynolds, 45, Orofino. Next of kin has been notified, according to AST.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was notified and will be investigating the crash.

Shaktoolik is small, native village 33 miles west of Unalakleet and 125 miles north of Nome on Norton Sound, according to Wikipedia.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for his family, wife, Gina, and daughter, Juliet at https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-the-family-of-shane-reynolds.