Tuxedni Bay, Cook Inlet - Alaska

Father, son hole up in cabin after aircraft accident

A father and son spent Sunday night in a cabin on the west side of Cook Inlet after an aircraft accident grounded them. According to Alaska State Troopers, 34-year-old David Hill and his 15-year-old son left the Birchwood Airport, north of Eagle River, at about 3 p.m. Sunday. A few hours later, their SPOT emergency beacon was activated in the vicinity of Tuxedni Bay, on the west side of Cook Inlet, across from the Kenai Peninsula. Hill sent a satellite text message to his wife that the aircraft had been "bent" and that he and the teen would spend the night in a cabin near the crash site. 

Troopers responded Monday morning around 7 a.m. and reported finding the two uninjured. The aircraft had been caught in a "ground loop" -- in which one of an aircraft's wings rises while the other approaches the ground, often striking the ground with a wing tip, causing the plane to spin while on the ground, during taxiing, landing or takeoff. In this case, the ground loop caused damage to the wing and tail.

Source:   http://www.alaskadispatch.com 

ANCHORAGE –  

Alaska State Troopers said a father and son from Eagle River were uninjured after damaging their plane near Tuxedni Bay Sunday.

The emergency locator beacon on the PA-18 Super Cub was activated shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, according to trooper dispatch, and investigation revealed the beacon belonged to 34-year-old David Hill. When contacted by troopers, Hill’s wife said he had flown from Birchwood Airport around 3 p.m. with their 15-year-old son, bound for the west side of Lower Cook Inlet. Troopers said Hill sent a message to his wife shortly after the emergency beacon activation, telling her the plane was “bent” but there were no injuries. He and his son would spend the night at a nearby cabin, Hill said via text.

Nighttime flying restrictions prevented AST from launching a rescue Sunday night, troopers said, so Helo 3 responded to Tuxedni Bay around 7 a.m. Monday morning. Both Hill and his son were located and flown back to the Birchwood Airport, and troopers said investigation showed their plane damaged its wing and tail in a ground loop Sunday night.

National Transportation Safety Board officials were notified of the crash, troopers said.

Source:   http://www.ktva.com