Plane Was Overloaded With Moose Meat In Crash That Killed Alaska Lawmaker's Husband, Ntsb Says

A level that collapsed and killed nan hubby of then-U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, 2 years agone was overloaded pinch moose nutrient and antlers, national investigators said this week.

Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., 57, was piloting a Piper PA 18-150 Super Cub erstwhile it went down successful nan mountains northeast of St. Mary’s connected Sept. 12, 2023.

The seasoned aviator was moving pinch a group of hunters who had camped retired successful nan distant wilderness and he was ferrying distant parts of a moose they had killed, officials said.

The aviator did not usage scales to measurement nan cargo and nan airplane was 117 pounds complete its maximum takeoff weight, according to nan NTSB's last report.

Eugene Peltola holds nan Bilbe arsenic his wife, Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska , is sworn successful astatine nan Capitol successful 2022.Francis Chung / Politico via AP file

Moose antlers were secured to nan plane's correct wing, a normal believe successful Alaska. But that requires FAA motion disconnected and location was "no grounds that specified support had been granted for nan mishap airplane," according to nan report.

The level was carrying astir 500 pounds of moose — 110 pounds of leg, 150 pounds of hind quarters, 50 pounds of ribs, 110 pounds of various different cuts and 70 pounds of antlers, NTSB records showed.

"The downdrafts, on pinch nan overweight airplane and nan added resistance and lateral weight imbalance caused by nan antlers connected nan correct wing, would apt person resulted successful nan airplane having insufficient powerfulness and/or power authority to maneuver supra terrain," nan study said.

An antler mounted to nan helping of Eugene Peltola's plane.NTSB

Shortly aft takeoff, huntsman Travis Hopkins was connected nan crushed and “recalled proceeding a sputter sound and past silence,” according to antecedently disclosed NTSB findings.

Hopkins ran to nan apical of a adjacent elevation and spotted wreckage earlier racing to nan scene, uncovering "the aviator still conscious successful nan beforehand spot but he had sustained facial injuries," nan NTSB said.

Hopkins utilized outer communications to telephone for thief astatine 8:48 p.m., officials said.

An Alaska Air National Guard chopper arrived astatine immoderate constituent betwixt 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. successful hopes of taking nan aviator to nan closest infirmary astir 400 miles distant successful Anchorage, officials said.

The aviator was talking and didn't look to beryllium successful evident symptom but "he became little responsive complete nan adjacent 2 hours until he became non-responsive and they could nary longer find a pulse," nan NTSB said.

The victim's "cause of decease was aggregate blunt unit injuries, and his mode of decease was accident," nan NTSB said.

Meat successful nan rear compartment of Eugene Peltola's level astatine nan clang site.NTSB

The pilot's wife, Mary Peltola, became a nationalist fig successful August 2022 erstwhile she became nan first autochthonal Alaskan to triumph a Congressional seat.

The Democrat topped GOP rivals that included erstwhile Gov. Sarah Palin, to return nan spot that had been erstwhile held by Rep. Don Young, who died successful March that twelvemonth astatine nan property of 88.

Peltola won predetermination to the afloat word successful November 2022 earlier she was edged past twelvemonth by Republican Nick Begich.