Two Aussies killed in Alaska air crash

Photo / Thinkstock

Two Australians have been killed in an air crash in Alaska.

Alaska State Troopers identified the victims as pilot Stephen Knight, 64, and Gillian Knight, 60, both of Queensland, the Alaska Dispatch reported on Thursday.

The Piper PA32 they were in crashed on Wednesday about 60 kilometres north of Fairbanks.

Searchers confirmed both people on the plane were killed.

Investigator Clint Johnson told the paper the plane disappeared from radar just before 5pm local en route from Fort Yukon to Fairbanks.

He described the terrain of the area where the plane went down as "mountainous, rolling hills".

"From what I understand, the plane had made contact with the (air traffic control), had asked a question, and when (the tower) answered, there was no response and they noticed it had dropped off the radar," trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said.

Johnson said the plane was in the process of filing what's known as a "pop-up" Instrument Flight Rules Plan. That can mean the weather is worsening over the course of a flight and a pilot is switching from visual to instrumental navigation.

The aeroplane was under lease to the California-based West Valley Flying Club, according to the company's owner, Lee Price.

Johnson said the Knights, who were married, were travelling with at least one other aircraft.

- AAP