Cessna A185E Skywagon, N185SZ: Incident occurred May 05, 2020 in Knik River, Butte, Alaska

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska

Aircraft down in Knik River due to unknown circumstances.

Eagles Shadow LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N185SZ

Date: 06-MAY-20
Time: 03:00:00Z
Regis#: N185SZ
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 185
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 91
City: PALMER
State: ALASKA 

BUTTE — Residents and recreators along Knik River Road were amazed at the result of relief efforts following a plane crash with a single occupant that was unharmed.

At 7:21 p.m. Tuesday, Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services Director Ken Barkley said a call came for water rescue of 39-year-old Bradley Szutz of Chugiak who had crash landed his plane in the Knik River. 

Mat-Su Dive Team responded with the Butte Fire Department and Central EMS and raced up river from the Knik Bridge to locate Szutz. 

Pilot Szutz denied medical treatment and left the river unharmed.

“He’s a very lucky individual,” said Barkley.

Barkley and Deputy EMS Director Gary Klink said that a salvage company had been called in. 

Around 9:30 p.m., a helicopter departed the Knik River bed towing Szutz’ plane from a large cable through the air. 

Szutz also left the scene with the helicopter. 

The National Transportation Safety Board will complete a follow up investigation into the crash.

https://www.frontiersman.com