BIG LAKE — Two men were seriously injured in the crash of a small plane Tuesday morning at Big Lake’s airport.
Both pilot and passenger were severely injured, according to Matanuska-Susitna Borough emergency services director Ken Barkley. The crash was reported at 9:35 a.m., Alaska State Troopers said.
Troopers said the adult male pilot of the Piper PA-32R-300 and an adult male passenger were taken to a Mat-Su hospital with serious injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
NTSB investigator Mark Ward, at the crash site Tuesday, said the plane was coming in for a landing.
Witnesses said the plane was over nearby trees and made a “steep turn to try and make the runway” but didn’t quite make it, Ward said.
The investigation will focus on the engine, he said, adding that the priority now is for the pilot to recover from his injuries.
“We don’t know if he had a flight control malfunction or if it was an engine failure,” Ward said. “Right now, his health is more important …”
The airport was closed to air traffic for several hours and reopened around noon, according to a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
The plane is registered to Northern Aviation LLC, based in Palmer. Owner Jeff Helmericks said both men involved in the crash are certificated pilots and they were conducting a “transition training” flight on Tuesday. Helmericks said he didn’t want to provide details about the crash until the investigation was further along.
“We’re going to figure out exactly what the problem is,” he said.
The single-engine plane, also known as a Piper Cherokee Lance, can seat up to six people.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
