The victims of a plane crash in central Washington’s Cascade mountains have been identified as Colorado residents.
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said that Eugene Long, 70, and Jeanette Long, 68, both of Lafayette, died when their four-seat Lancair ES crashed about 3 p.m. Friday in a rugged, wooded area about 10 miles south of Easton.
A longtime neighbor of the couple said Eugene Long had retired from the Ball Corp., where he was an engineer. According to the neighbor, he had spent several years building the plane that crashed.
The homemade aircraft won a prize for best composite at the Sun ‘n Fun competition in Florida last year. The competition is an annual event for aircraft enthusiasts.
According to the Yakima Herald Republic, the Longs were returning from Ketchikan, Alaska, to Mountain Home, Idaho, after a guided multiday flying trip in Alaska.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Elsewhere, Alaska state troopers said two Colorado men survived a plane crash near Ketchikan.
Troopers said the pilot, Robert C. Davis, 66, and a passenger, Glenn B. Davis, 58, were the only people in the plane when it ran out of fuel Friday evening on its approach to the southeast Alaska town.
The plane crashed off Gravina Island and sank.
The men, who live in Beulah, Colo., were rescued after a passing float plane landed in the water nearby.
According to troopers, the men were transported to a Ketchikan hospital, where Glenn Davis was treated for mild hypothermia and released.
Troopers said the pilot was not hurt.
