Page 2 - Float Planes News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Four others near dillingham, alaska. investigators say they recovered the engine from the side of this mountain where this plane crashed. they have also talked to two of the four survivors. one who was asleep until the crash the other who said that the plane just stopped flying. small planes like the one involved in the ted stevens crash are considered workhorses in alaska. these are how most people get to remote areas. our casey wian looks at their history and their importance to this state. >> reporter: one of the first things you notice when you arrive in alaska how prevalent these so-calle...

Many cities are inaccessible by car. there are not roads. you either access them by plane or by boat. float planes have become the method of transportation most popular in this state. over my left shoulder here you can see an otter which is the type of plane that was carrying ted stevens, late senator, and eight others, four of whom perished. it's an occupational hazard as ted stevens once said himself of life in alaska. these planes in many cases are very, very old. people who fly them say they're very, very safe but the terrain here makes flying often very treacherous. here at the alaska avi...

New video of the part of the wing that crashed from that plane in alaska being brought to the airport. we have some results from autopsies on the victims as well. the medical examiner says all five deaths were the result of injuries associated with the crash and they were not survivable. the former nasa chief sean o'keefe's condition has been upgraded for the first time since he survived the crash. he is now listed in serious condition. casey wian is in alaska where he is seeing first hand the importance and the perils of small planes. >> reporter: one of the first things you notice when you a...

Describe the topography and conditions. let's talk with someone who knows them probably better than anybody else. governor sarah palin. tell us about this. >> it's quite chilly depending on the plane crash location it's probably in mountainous terrain. there is a lot of lakes out there in brings tal bay, which is right outside of anchorage. no doubt the weather is lousy, overcast, 40 degrees or so, lots of rain and fog in the area is quite typical. the area is quite busy with float planes and bush pilots in and out because this is the world's richest salmon spawning and fishing grounds. jon: i...

Dillingham but cannot get to the crash site because of weather. we have not heard any word whether or not that has changed since early this morning. as you mentioned, several reports overnight that ted stevens was onboard the plane along with top executives with the company gci but so far we have been unable to confirm those reports officially. >> and, for all of us, give us an idea how common it is to use the plane to get around when in alaska. >> it's very common. i mean, especially in the bristol bay region because it's completely surround oed by water. it's not uncommon for many lodges out...