Investigators Say Alaska Flight That Killed 10 Was Overweight for Icy Conditions
The Bering Air plane that crashed in Alaska killing all 10 people on board was overweight for weather conditions, authorities have said.
On Wednesday, March 19, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report about the fatal Feb. 6 crash, referencing a flight manual which noted, 'Maximum Weight for Flight into Known Icing Conditions.'
The aircraft, which 'was equipped with standard support items used at outstations, such as cargo netting, tie-down straps, engine cowling plugs, a portable scale, and a tail stand,' also included 'baggage and cargo [that] weighed about 709 lbs.'
The NTSB's preliminary report found that the aircraft 'was about 969 lbs over the maximum takeoff gross weight for flight into known or forecast icing conditions under the TKS system supplement.'
'It was also about 714 lbs over the maximum gross takeoff weight for any flight operation under the APE III flight manual supplement,' the report added.
The commuter flight initially departed from Nome Airport (PAOM) in Nome, Alaska. It proceeded to Saint Michael Airport (PAMK) in Saint Michael, Alaska, stopping at Unalakleet Airport (PAUN) in Unalakleet, Alaska.
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The plane was expected to return to PAOM that afternoon, the preliminary report said.
All 10 victims were residents from Alaska between the ages of 30 and 58.
Victims were identified as utility operations employees and Anchorage residents Rhone Baumgartner, 46, and Kameron Hartvigson, 41, both of whose names were already identified by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).
Nome resident Chad Antill, 34, was named as the aircraft's pilot.
Other fatalities were Liane Ryan, 52, and Andrew Gonzalez, 30, of Wasilla; Donnell Erickson, 58, of Nome; Jadee Moncur, 52, of Eagle River; Ian Hofmann, 45, of Anchorage; and 34-year-old Talaluk Katchatag and 48-year-old Carol Mooers, both of Unalakleet.
Related: 2 Passengers of Alaska Plane Crash Identified as Utility Workers: 'They Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice for the People We Serve'
According to the NTSB, Antill 'was employed by the operator as a pilot since March 2022. His most recent 12-month competency check was completed on December 9, 2024.'
Authorities previously revealed during a Feb. 7 press conference that the Bering Air commuter plane began to lose elevation and speed, with its then-last-known location being 'in the vicinity of Norton Sound, approximately 30 miles southeast of Nome,' per the U.S. Coast Guard.
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'Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident,' Nome Mayor John Handeland said, as reported by the Associated Press.
The investigation remains ongoing. A final report will be released at a later time, the outlet added on Wednesday.
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