Wolf expert killed in Alaska plane crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A biologist who spent decades studying wolves in Alaska died in a bush plane crash in Denali National Park while his pilot hiked 20 miles out, officials said.

Gordon Haber was tracking wolf packs when the Cessna 185 crashed and burned Wednesday, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The pilot, Daniel McGregor, survived and walked Thursday to the Igloo Creek campground until he encountered the only campers in the park, Nick Rodrick and Jesse Hoagland, two young New Hampshire men who had come to Alaska by van.

"He came staggering up to us," Rodrick said. "We saw him. His fleece was all burned. It kind of freaked us out at first."

McGregor was taken to a burn center in Seattle.

The plane was reported missing late Wednesday. By the time McGregor turned up, rangers had found the wreckage.

Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals in Darien, Conn., said Haber was devoted to wolves.