NTSB Identification: ANC15LA035
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, June 04, 2015 in McCarthy, AK
Aircraft: PIPER PA 18-150, registration: N985W
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 4, 2015, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, the pilot-in-command of N985W, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, was struck by the spinning propeller while attempting to load the airplane, 15 miles east of McCarthy, Alaska. The airplane sustained minor damage and the certificated airline transport pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to Hunter Creek, LLC and operated by Alaska Cub Training Specialists, Palmer, Alaska, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed.
In statements provided to the United States Park Service and National Transportation Safety Board, witnesses stated that four airplanes, flying as a group, had landed at Pevine Bar Airstrip in the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park. To stave off swarms of mosquitos while loading the airplanes, the engines of all four airplanes were started and allowed to operate at idle, with the cockpits unattended. While loading gear on the right side of the airplane, the airplane to the left of the accident airplane, also a Piper, PA-18, began slowly moving forward. The pilot of N985W attempted to go around the front of his airplane towards the left wing to prevent the two airplanes from making contact. Subsequently, the pilot ran into the back of the spinning propeller, and was struck three times.
The closest weather reporting facility is Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, Alaska, 95 miles from the accident site. At 1053, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Gulkana Airport was reporting in part: wind from 040 degrees at 7 knots; sky condition, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature 52 degrees F; dew point 36 degrees F; altimeter 29.39inHG.
Jay Baldwin , CFI A&G
ANCHORAGE – A well-known Wasilla flight instructor died Thursday after being struck by the moving propeller of his own aircraft, according to a release from the National Park Service.
The pilot, 62-year-old Clark J. (Jay) Baldwin, was instructing a group of fellow pilots in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park/Preserve Thursday when the apparent accident took place.
Five small planes, including Baldwin’s, were idling near each other on the Peavine Bar airstrip 15 miles east of McCarthy when one of them began to roll. Witnesses later told Park Service officials that Baldwin attempted to stop the rolling plane and, in doing so, accidentally walked backwards into the propeller of his own Piper PA-18 Super Cub aircraft, according to Robin Broyles, spokesperson with the NPS.
Officials were notified of the accident via satellite phone at around 11 a.m. Thursday morning.
Baldwin owned and operated Alaska’s Cub Training Specialists – a flight school based in Wasilla with his wife, Sandy. He was a retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Air Force and “spent 35 years in aviation,” according to his company’s website.
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ANCHORAGE - Clark J. Baldwin, 62, of Wasilla, a well-known pilot and flight instructor, was killed Thursday morning when he was struck by the propeller of his plane, National Park Service spokesperson Robyn Broyles told Channel 2 News.
Baldwin, a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Air Force and owner of the Alaska Club Training Specialists flight school, was teaching a class at the Peavine bar strip about 15 miles east of McCarthy Thursday morning, Broyles said.
"Baldwin was the only operator of the plane at the time and was instructing a small group of pilots when he got out of his plane was struck and killed by the propeller of his plane," Broyles told Channel 2 News.
According to Broyles, Baldwin's students contacted emergency medical services around 11 a.m. with a satellite phone.
The death is being investigated as an accident.
ORIGINAL STORY: A pilot is dead Friday after being hit by the propeller of his plane, officials of the National Transportation Safety Board say.
NTSB officials were notified of the man's death around 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
Clint Johnson, Alaska chief of NTSB told Channel 2 News that the plane involved was a Piper PA-18-125 Super Cub.
"Our understanding is that the pilot was getting ready to depart, the plane was idling and he got out of the plane to load some bags when he inadvertently walked around the plane into the propeller and was killed," Johnson said.
According to Johnson there were four other planes at the strip at the time of the fatality, which took place around 11 a.m. Thursday.
"We will be investigating it, as is our duty, but we won't be sending an investigator out there," Johnson said. The National Parks Service will leading the investigation into the pilot's death.
The events leading up to the pilot's death are still being investigated and there are few other details at the time.
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