FAA says at least five died in Alaska air crash

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At least five people died in the crash of a private aircraft in Alaska Monday night, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a preliminary report. Agency reports said eight or nine people were on the plane, which crashed near the the town of Dillingham.
Alaska's FAA office said two survivors had serious injuries and two had minor injuries.
It said the flight was from GCI Lodge on Lake Nerka to Dillingham.
Sean O'Keefe, a former head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was a passenger on the aircraft, said EADS North America -- the company where he is chief executive officer.
"Local authorities are reporting that there are survivors and a rescue operation is under way," said Guy Hicks, EADS North America spokesman "No other details are available at this time."
EADS North America is a subsidiary of EADS, the European aerospace company.
The National Transportation Safety Board has assembled a team to probe the Monday night plane crash in Alaska.
Senior air safety investigator Clint Johnson, from the NTSB's Anchorage regional office, will be the investigator in charge, and the entire team is expected in Dillingham by midday.
Inclement weather was reported in the area at the time of the crash, said Guard spokesman Major Guy Hayes.
The NTSB said the plane crashed 10 miles northwest of Aleknagik about 8 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time (midnight ET). Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Paul Takemoto that the plane was a DeHavilland DHC-3.
He said its tail number was N455A and it was registered to GCI Communications Corp based in Anchorage.
Authorities say the location is about 10 miles northwest of Aleknagik, Alaska.
The Air Force 11th Rescue Coordination Center, which is manned by Alaska National Guardsmen, was contacted by Dillingham Flight Service after someone spotted the downed aircraft.
Two aircraft were helping in the recovery effort, and medical personnel were on scene assisting the crash victims, the Guard said.
O'Keefe had a long career in the government and higher education, most recently serving as NASA administrator from December 2001 until his resignation in February 2005.
Before heading NASA, O'Keefe served for 11 months as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, overseeing the preparation, management and administration of the federal budget.