NTSB Releases Report on Fatal Mid-Air Collision

The report claims the surviving pilot, Kevin Earp, saw the other plane moments before the crash.

Tools

By KTVA CBS 11
Bio

Story Created: Aug 12, 2011 at 2:42 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 12, 2011 at 2:43 PM AKDT

The National Transportation Safety Board released findings Tuesday on the mid-air collision that killed a family of four southwest of Talkeetna several weeks ago.

 According to the preliminary report, the two float planes were flying near Amber Lake when they collided, causing one to crash to the ground in flames and sending the other limping back to Ted Stevens International Airport.
    
The report claims the surviving pilot, Kevin Earp, saw the other plane moments before the crash.
 
He steered up, away and to the left, but it was too late.
 
“In my opinion they were both focused on landing or taking off and not so much looking out the window,” said Andy Hutzel, manager at Lake Hood Seaplane Base.
 
Members of the Alaska flight community said the tragedy is a reminder for pilots to pay attention to basic safety precautions.
 
“One of the reasons we paint them a bright color is because even if you're down in a remote area and you have a green airplane, and it's summer time, it'd be really hard to find,” said Anchorage pilot Jerry Lewis. “It's just common sense.”
 
The NTSB is expected to release a full report on the fatal collision within the next year.
 

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Kevin S said on Saturday, Aug 13 at 3:50 PM

In my opinion Andy Hutzel is a bit too judgmental. Sometimes accidents happen. The conditions can make it very difficult to see the other aircraft.

72306214
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.