2 Escape Serious Injury in Yellowstone Plane Crash

POWELL, Wyo. (AP) — Authorities say two Alaska men escaped serious injury when they crashed their single-engine airplane in Yellowstone National Park.

Park County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lance Mathess tells the Associated Press, 61-year-old pilot James Betzhold and his passenger, 25-year-old Douglas Betzhold, both of Beluga, Alaska, crashed shortly after taking off from Cody's Yellowstone Regional Airport at about 4 p.m. Friday.

The fixed-wing Piper 180 aircraft crashed southeast of Sylvan Pass just inside Yellowstone's eastern boundary.

The men were on their way to Boise, Idaho, and were reported overdue early Saturday. They stayed with the wreckage, which was found Saturday morning.

James Betzhold was treated at the scene for possible fractured ribs, a fractured nose and minor cuts. Douglas Betzhold suffered only scrapes and bruises. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.