Federal Investigation Launched Into Deadly Yukon Plane Crash As Community Mourns Veteran Pilot

 Federal investigators begin their search into what caused a deadly plane crash near Yukon on Tuesday.

Police say the private plane was taking off from Sundance Airpark located on Sara Road when it veered off the runway into a wooded area and crashed. All four people on board died.

Pilots at Sundance gathered to remember the pilot who they say was a seasoned pilot with more than 24 years of experience in the air.

“When you lose a friend in an airplane, it becomes more personal,” said fellow pilot Bob Haines.

Haines has been a pilot for 50 years and knew the pilot who died.

“A big smile,” Haines said remembering his fellow pilot. “He was always in a good mood, smiling, always wanted to stop and talk.”

Haines said the pilot was well known to all the pilots at Sundance.

“He was in good shape, he used to walk from his hangar up here every single day, drink coffee with the guys,” Haines said.

Now the guys are sitting here without him, trying to piece together why the plane crashed.

“There's speculation all over the place, none of us were in the cockpit so we don't know,” Haines said. “The engine was running very strong all the way into the trees, so the engine was not an issue.”

Initial reports show the plane veered off the runway well after it should have been in the air, clipping a hay bale before crashing into the woods. The plane caught fire. Haines said the pilot had planned to take his friends up for fun.

“He was giving a ride to some friends,” Haines said. “He mentioned that was what he was going to do.”

The National Transportation Safety Board says a preliminary report on the cause is expected within 30 days.