Pebble copter helps rescue plane crash survivors

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Koliganek
Type: Aircraft crash, rescue
On 9/2/09, at approximately 1300 hours, a float plane piloted by Kirk Gay, age 65, of Anchorage, crash landed in the tundra approximately 6 miles northeast of the village of Koliganek. Gay and another fishing guide had flown two fishing clients into the area to fish on the Nushagak River from their lodge on Six Mile Lake. They were on their way back to the lodge when the aircraft's engine stalled and Gay made an emergency landing. No one was injured as a result of the crash, but the aircraft's floats were badly damaged. Using a satellite telephone, Gay was able to contact the Iliamna Air Taxi Service in Iliamna, who alerted authorities of the crash. AST Dillingham was eventually notified and an AWT aircraft and two troopers were dispatched to the scene. RCC Anchorage was also notified, along with the FAA and the NTSB. The Pebble Mine in Iliamna was contacted and they agreed to donate a helicopter from their operation to retrieve Gay and the three other members of his party. The four men were picked up by the helicopter approximately 1630 hours and they were returned the fishing lodge at 1800 hours.