Jim Tweto, a pilot who starred in the reality documentary series Discovery Flying wild alaska, he died. He was 68 years old.
Tweto and his friend Shane Reynolds, a hunting guide from Orofino, Idaho, died Friday, June 16, in a small plane crash near the coastal village of Shaktoolik, Alaska. Tweto’s daughter Ariel confirmed her father’s passing on her Instagram page on Saturday (June 17).
“I didn’t think anything could hurt this bad,” Ariel wrote. “And I don’t know why I’m sharing this, but the news broke so I figure you heard it from me. And I would take any other kind of pain if it could land today.
“My father and a wonderful hunting guide and friend of our family passed away this afternoon at the age of 180,” she added. “He died doing what he really loved and now he’s with Uncle Ron up there growing up. Please send love to them as well as to my mother, sisters, wife and family.”
According to the Alaska State Trooper’s report (per The Hollywood Reporter), “the Cessna 180 aircraft was seen taking off but not climbing and then crashing.” The police arrived at the scene and recovered two bodies. The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating the accident.
Tweto and his family appeared on Discovery Flying wild alaska, which ran for three seasons between 2011 and 2012. The series revolved around the daily life and operations of Era Alaska, the airline Tweto operated at the time. It also included segments from the family’s other bases in Utqiagvik (Barrow) and Deadhorse.
The show featured Tweto’s wife, Ferno, and two of their daughters, Ayla and Ariel. The couple has a third daughter, Elaine. Ariel has since become a voice actress, most notably voicing Kima Evanoff on the Fox animated series. The Great North.