Bush pilot Jim Tweto, star of the Discovery Channel’s “Flying Wild Alaska,” was killed along with an Idaho hunting and fishing guide when their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Friday.
The rural aviation family business of Tweto in Unalakleet was featured in three seasons of the television series ten years ago.
He and passenger Shane Reynolds of Orofino, Idaho, died Friday near the coastal village of Shaktoolik, about 125 miles east of Nome, Alaska State Troopers said.
The plane “was seen taking off but not climbing and then crashing,” their report said.
Troops were notified of an SOS activation around 11:48 a.m. Friday, followed by a report that a Cessna 180 had crashed 35 miles northeast of Shaktoolik.
Bush pilot Jim Tweto, star of the Discovery Channel’s ‘Flying Wild Alaska’, was killed with an Idaho hunting and fishing guide when their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Friday
Authorities responding from Nome recovered both bodies. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating.
THE Anchorage Daily News reported that Tweto co-owned Hageland Aviation Services and then Era Alaska, which later became Ravn Air Group.
Reynolds led the Northwest Fishing Expeditions, guiding clients in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest for years.
Tweto, 68, died doing what he loved, his daughter Ariel posted on Instagram.
“I didn’t think anything could hurt this much,” she wrote. “And I don’t know why I’m writing this but the news got out so I thought you heard it from me.”
She posted several photos of her father on social media, paying tribute to someone she “trusted” and “felt safer with than anyone else”.
Ariel shared her final text messages with Father Jim, where he said: ‘Faith you just can’t get enough’
She called Reynolds, 45, “a wonderful hunting guide and friend to our family” who left behind a wife, Gina, and a daughter, Juliet.
The rural aviation family business of Tweto in Unalakleet was featured in three seasons of the TV series a decade ago
Tweto, 68, died doing what he loved, his daughter Ariel posted on Instagram
Ariel Tweto shared his last texts with father Jim, where he said “Faith, you can’t get enough of it”
So far, over $17,000 has been raised for Reynolds’ family on gofundme.
Ariel Tweto asked anyone wishing to donate funds in the wake of the tragedy to do so to Reynolds’ family.
“Born and raised in Idaho, Shane fulfilled his dream of becoming a fishing and hunting guide,” campaign organizer Kelsi Ivanoff wrote.
“He has guided for big game and fish in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. He led the Northwest fishing expeditions and settled in Orofino, Idaho, where he and his wife raised their daughter.
“Shane left this world doing what he loved from a young age.”
Ariel Tweto has asked anyone wishing to donate funds following the tragedy to do so to Shane Reynolds’ family. Reynold was a hunting guide who also died in the crash
Friends and family are looking to raise a total of $20,000 to help cover expenses.
Born in Kansas and raised in Minnesota, Tweto came to Alaska to play hockey at the University of Alaska in Anchorage and settled in Unalakleet, where he met his wife Ferno.
The couple and their three daughters were featured in the Discovery series, which aired in 2011-2012.
