Breaking: Douglas DC-4 crashes near Fairbanks

A Douglas DC-4 airplane has crashed near Fairbanks, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The report to the Alaska State Troopers came in at 10:03 am of the crash about seven miles south of the Fairbanks International Airport on the Tanana River.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a Douglas DC-4 crashed into the Tanana River after taking off from Fairbanks International Airport at 9:55 a.m. with two people on board.

The aircraft slid into a steep hill on the bank of the river where it caught fire. No survivors have been located as of Tuesday afternoon. A helicopter was circling the crash site, which was in terrain that was difficult to reach.

The DC-4 is used to deliver fuel to villages in the Interior. The aircraft is an American-buillt, four-engined, propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Military versions of the plane were used in World War II during the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s. Since 1945, the plane has been used for civilian purposes.

There is a recording of an aircraft attempting to declare an emergency and attempting to return to the field. A minute later, it loses radar contact with Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACON).

The NTSB is responding to conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, DPS HELO 2, University of Alaska Police, Fairbanks Airport Police and Fire, Fairbanks Police Department, Ester Volunteer Fire Department, Chena Goldstream Volunteer Fire Department, and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center responded to the scene.