Up north, this is waaaaaaay more common than many people realize. It is borne witness by the fact that in Alaksa, an FAA 'major initiative' was to get 50% of active pilots licensed! (They missed by a mile, btw.
) Most people up here grow up with sleds, atvs and floatplanes - they are just another tool in the box.
Despite high profile accidents such as this one, it would be a mistake to assume that any unlicensed pilot necessarily = bad pilot. Many have grown up operating bush planes and have thousands of hours operating in remote areas in some of the most unforgiving environments on the planet. Others have picked up their skills as safety pilots for other family / friends.
Yes, it is wrong and the authorities are right to come down on transgressors, but it happens all the time. Perhaps a little more effort should be spent by our po-faced bureaucrats on examining the reasons why and ensuring a cheaper and easier route for skilled pilots to comply with the regulations.