Alaska Float Plane Crash Investigation
The investigation into the crash of the 1957 DeHavilland DHC-3T that was carrying former Senator Ted Stevens is reportedly underway.
According to National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz a team is being sent to the crash site outside Dillingham, Alaska. Dillingham is in Bristol Bay which is about 325 miles southwest of Anchorage. The aircraft is reportedly registered to Anchorage-based GCI.
The cause of the crash is not yet known. It has been reported however, that flights at Dillingham are often dangerous through the mountains.
According to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus, the plane was being navigated by visual flight rules, and was not required to file a flight plan.
Unfortunately, Stevens’ death in this plane crash is not unprecedented for a politician. Other politicians who were victims of aviation accidents include Pennsylvania Sen. John Heinz in 1991, South Dakota Gov. George Mickelson in 1993, Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan in 2000 and Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone in 2002.
Clifford Law Offices has experience handling small Alaska plane crashes and turboprop fishing plane accidents. To read more about the portion of our aviation practice focused on small plane crashes please go here.