ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Authorities say the pilot of a small plane that crashed into a building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, was a member of the Civil Air Patrol who wasn't authorized to fly the small aircraft.
A national Civil Air Patrol statement says the pilot was 1st Lt. Doug Demarest, who joined the patrol in 2010. The FBI says he was the person killed when the Cessna 172 clipped an office building before slamming into a commercial building Tuesday.
The Civil Air Patrol is a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force that is made up of volunteers who help in search and rescue missions.
FBI spokeswoman Staci Feger-Pellessier says no one on the ground was hurt and there was no indication anyone else was aboard the plane.
The plane clipped the corner of the office building, where some state employees work, before slamming into a nearby commercial building just before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Don Tallman of the Anchorage Fire Department says the building appeared to be unoccupied at the time of the crash. Witnesses said the wreckage was fully engulfed in flames; crews at the scene managed to quickly put the fire under control.
UPDATES on the small plane crash into a building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska (all times local):
11:30 a.m.
Authorities say the FBI has joined the investigation into a deadly plane crash in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.
Anchorage-based bureau spokeswoman Staci Feger-Pellessier declined to comment on why the agency was involved. But she says there's no reason to believe the crash was related to terrorism.
The small plane belonging to the Civil Air Patrol clipped an office building before slamming into a commercial building Tuesday, killing at least one person on board.
The Civil Air Patrol is a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force that is made up of volunteers who help in search and rescue missions. Clint Johnson, Alaska region chief for the National Transportation Safety Board, says there were no sanctioned flights when the plane crashed at 6:18 a.m.
Fire officials say no one was hurt on the ground, but it's unclear if anyone else was in the plane.
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9:10 a.m.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker says he was at the site of a small plane crash in downtown Anchorage to find out what was going on.
The plane clipped the corner of the office building, where some state employees work, before slamming into a nearby commercial building Tuesday morning.
Walker told an Associated Press reporter at the site shortly after the crash Tuesday that he was there to find out what was happening.
At least one person on board was killed, but fire officials say there were no injuries on the ground.
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8:50 a.m.
Federal authorities say the small plane that crashed into a building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, belongs to the Civil Air Patrol.
But Clint Johnson, Alaska region chief for the National Transportation Safety Board, says there were no sanctioned flights when the plane crashed early Tuesday.
The Civil Air Patrol is a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, made up of volunteers who help in search and rescue missions.
Karen Bowen, a bookkeeper who answered the phone at the group's office, relayed instructions from the group's commander that the crash is under investigation. A message was left for the volunteer commander, who wasn't in the office.
Johnson says there were blustery winds when the plane clipped the corner of an office building and then crashed into the side of an adjacent commercial building. But he says nothing is being ruled out as a cause.
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8 a.m.
A witness who saw a small plane seconds before it slammed into a building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, said the aircraft didn't sound like it was having engine trouble.
Authorities say at least one person aboard died when the plane crashed into a commercial building Tuesday.
Kent Haina, a 747 captain for UPS, said he was taking out his garbage and sorting through his recyclables when he heard the plane circle around him. He then watched as it went down at a shallow angle.
He says the plane disappeared behind a building, then he heard a loud thud and saw a plume of black smoke.
Haina says the wind was howling while he was outside and he thought to himself it wasn't good weather to be flying in.
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7:50 a.m.
Authorities say at least one person aboard a small plane died when it crashed into a commercial building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.
Assistant Fire Chief Alex Boyd said there were no injuries on the ground. He says the plane clipped the corner of an office building before it crashed into the side of the commercial building beside it.
The crash happened early Tuesday, before many businesses opened. Officials say it ignited a fire.
Don Tallman of the Anchorage Fire Department said it didn't appear there was anyone inside the building, which received extensive damage.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer says it wasn't clear why the plane hit the building. He didn't have information on the type of aircraft but said the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
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7 a.m.
Authorities say a small plane crashed into a commercial building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, setting it ablaze.
Don Tallman of the Anchorage Fire Department says the crash was first reported around 6:19 a.m. and the fire was under control by 7 a.m.
He didn't have any information about how many people were on the plane and whether there were any deaths or injuries. He said it didn't appear there was anyone inside the building.
Police spokeswoman Anita Shell said the plane was fully engulfed.
Tallman said crews were still searching the building and there was extensive damage to the facility.
