Flying Wild Alaska is an American documentary television series aired on Discovery Channel on January 14, 2011, and ended on July 20, 2012. It has a total of 31 episodes spanning three seasons. The series is aired on the broadcast network Quest.
The show features the Tweto family from Unalakleet, Alaska, who runs the regional Alaska airline Era Alaska. They operate the hub operations from a remote area, Unalakleet. The show also features Tweto’s other segments from their bases in Deadhorse, Utqiagvik (Barrow), and other places.
Various pilots from cities around Alaska, including Jared Cummings: owner of Golden Eagle Outfitters, Sarah Fraher: from St Mary’s, Luke Hickerson: lead pilot from Utqiagvik, John Ponts: pilot from Utqiagvik; Erik Snuggerud, a lead pilot from Bethel, Doug Stewart, a pilot from Nome, Nick Stone, co-pilot from Nome and Chelsea Abingdon Welch, a flight instructor from Unalakleet were showcased on the show.
Tragic Plane Crash takes two lives:
Bush pilot Jim Tweto, widely recognized for his role in the popular Discovery Channel series “Flying Wild Alaska,” tragically lost his life in a plane crash in Western Alaska on June 16. The incident also involved the death of Shane Reynolds, an outdoor guide from Idaho. The Alaska State Troopers received an SOS activation reporting a crash involving a Cessna 180 aircraft 35 miles northeast of Shaktoolik around 11:48 a.m. on Friday. According to the witnesses, the plane took off but failed to gain altitude and eventually crashed.
Jim Tweto, aged 68, and his 45-year-old passenger, Shane Reynolds from Orofino, Idaho, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Another member of their hunting party, who stayed on the ground, witnessed the tragic accident and reported it. Troopers dispatched from Nome recovered the bodies of both men on Friday, and their family members were duly notified. Their bodies were taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for Autopsy and further examination.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have ordered an investigation to seek for reasons behind the crash. NTSB’s Alaska chief, Clint Johnson, stated that they would be sending a team consisting of representatives from the airframe manufacturer and the FAA to Nome to assist in the investigation. When weather conditions improve, which is expected to occur later in the weekend or early next week, the team will travel to the remote crash site via helicopter to investigate.
Ariel Tweto, daughter of Jim Tweto, confirmed the devastating news through Instagram that her father and a friendly hunting guide and family friend passed away in the crash of her father’s Cessna 180. Ariel expressed her pride in her father through social media posts, saying he died doing what he truly loved. She thanked her father for all the love and support he gave her. Ariel provided a GoFundMe link along with the post to help raise funds for Jim’s memorial, which has received significant donations.
Jim Tweto is a long-time bush pilot, born in Kansas in 1954 and grew up in Minnesota. In 1980, he settled in Unalakleet, where he met his wife, Ferno, and at the same time, his passion for aviation grew. Jim acquired his pilot’s license and built fishing boats under Gussiko Ventures. He co-owned Hageland Aviation Services and later Era Alaska, which eventually became Ravn Air Group.
Tweto gained national recognition through his appearance in the documentary television series “Flying Wild Alaska,” showcasing him, his wife, and their aviator daughters Ariel, Ayla, and Elaine’s lives and airline. The series started airing in 2011 and lasted until 2012 for three seasons. It highlighted the family’s aviation business and the challenges faced by bush pilots operating in remote regions of Alaska.
Jim Tweto met with an accident in 2007, where he suffered a broken neck, but he survived and fully recovered.
Shane Reynolds, an experienced fisherman, and big game hunter, worked in Northwest Fishing Expeditions and provided guiding services in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. He leaves behind his wife, Gina, and their daughter in Idaho.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, as NTSB authorities aim to determine the cause of this tragic incident that claimed the lives of two individuals.
