Cessna A185E Skywagon, N185SZ: Accident occurred May 05, 2020 in Palmer, Alaska

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. 

Additional Participating Entity:

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

Eagles Shadow LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N185SZ

Location: Palmer, AK

Accident Number: ANC20CA049

Date & Time: May 5, 2020, 19:00 Local

Registration: N185SZ

Aircraft: Cessna 185

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 

Registration: N185SZ

Model/Series: 185 Aircraft

Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator: On file 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: PAAQ,248 ft msl 

Observation Time: 18:30 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 15.6°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / 15 knots, 90°

Lowest Ceiling: None 

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Departure Point: Chugiak, AK (AK24)

Destination: Palmer, AK

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 61.620338,-148.98068 (est)

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

Alaska State Troopers say a 39-year-old pilot landed his plane in the Knik River Tuesday night.

Alaska State Troopers says around 7 p.m., they responded to an airplane crash near Friday Creek in the Jim Creek recreational area.

Butte Fire, Central EMS, and Mat-Su Dive team also were on the scene.

The pilot of the plane, Bradley J. Szutz, was not injured during the crash but landed in the Knik River.

Mat-Su Dive team helped Szutz to shore.

The plane was recovered and was taken back to Anchorage.

National Transportation Safety Board will be completing the follow-up investigation into the crash.

https://www.ktuu.com