Pilot Likely Tried to Avoid Loose Dog on Runway Before Crash That Killed Him and Passenger: NTSB
An NTSB official said a loose dog was on the runway at the time the Cessna was making its approach
The cause of the crash is under investigation
A Cessna 207 airplane crashed in Alaska earlier this week, killing two people inside, and authorities are now saying that the pilot may have been trying to avoid a loose dog on the runway as the aircraft was making its approach.
According to Alaska State Troopers, authorities were notified on Monday, April 28, at 1:57 p.m., local time, of a plane crash in Nanwalek near an airport. They arrived at the scene where first responders and good Samaritans were helping the three people from the aircraft.
'One adult male passenger was medevaced to an Anchorage area hospital with serious injuries, and the two other occupants were killed in the crash,' authorities said.
Related: 3 People Dead After Small Plane Crashes Near Rural Tennessee Airport
In a preliminary report, the FAA said the aircraft 'crashed for unknown reasons on the runway and went into the water at the end of the runway.' It also listed Smokey Bay Air as the aircraft's operator.
Authorities identified the two deceased victims as pilot Daniel Bunker, 48, of Homer, and passenger Jenny Miller, 37, of Anchorage. The identity of the injured passenger has not been released.
'The NTSB has begun an investigation into the cause of the crash. Miller and Bunker's next of kin have been notified and their bodies have been sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy,' Alaska State Troopers said.
Related: Dad Found One Last Video of Wife and Daughter Taking Off Before D.C. Plane Crash: 'Always in Our Hearts' (Exclusive)
According to CBS affiliate KTUU, witnesses observed a loose dog on the runway as the Cessna 207 traveling from Homer was about to land on the Nanwalek airstrip.
'What we understand now is that there may have been an animal, namely a dog, that was on the runway,' Clint Johnson, chief of the NTSB's Alaska regional office, told the outlet.
'The pilot initiated a go-around,' Johnson continued. 'There was also another company airplane behind — he was talking to that airplane at the same time — said he was initiating the go-around, made a right turn away from the runway, pretty steep climb, and unfortunately, there was a loss of control.'
He also said the aircraft may have stalled, but he didn't want to draw any conclusions yet as the investigation into the crash is still in its early stages.
Related: 5 Police Officers Killed After Plane Crashes into Ocean Near Popular Beach Town: Reports
'We are going to be looking very closely at that airplane,' Johnson said, per KTUU. 'We are in the recovery process right now to get that airplane back to Homer and probably eventually back to Anchorage here where we are going to lay it out and make sure there are no mechanical issues that led to this loss of control.'
PEOPLE contacted the NTSB for additional information on Wednesday, April 30.
The Seldovia Village Tribe, a tribal government representing the Southern Kenai Peninsula communities, acknowledged Bunker's passing in a Facebook post.
'We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash involving Smokey Bay Air, and we mourn the loss of Daniel Bunker—a skilled pilot and kind soul who served our communities with dedication,' the tribe said.
Related: No Survivors Found After Plane Crashes into a Minnesota Home, Sparking Fiery Blaze
According to the Anchorage Daily News, Miller was a photographer and artist whose works have been shown around the world. She was also a board member of the Alaska-based nonprofit group Native Movement, which paid tribute to her following her death.
'She broadened the expression of both Alaska Native and Queer identity, making it possible for more people to be our authentic selves,' their statement read. 'In her own words: 'Being grounded in my Iñupiaq culture has given me strength and propelled me into my work around decolonizing gender and sexuality.' '
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
'Jenny was a role-model and mentor for LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit youth,' the nonprofit added. 'She prioritized creating safe spaces for the community, and in particular for the Alaska Native trans and two-spirit community, spaces where people could feel safe and supported in being themselves. Jenny had a deep commitment to justice for people and Mother Earth.'
Read the original article on People
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Northern Colorado crews investigate after ultralight aircraft crashes in Larimer County
Crews rushed to investigate after an ultralight aircraft crashed in Northern Colorado on Wednesday morning. The crash happened about 8:40 a.m. on Larimer County Road 2 west of LCR 21. According to Andrew Kuiken, the Division Chief of Berthoud Fire, when crews arrived, the plane with a single occupant was on fire with nearby power lines down. The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the crash. The condition of the pilot is unknown. The CBS Colorado helicopter flew above the crash scene, where two other aircraft were seen parked in the field near the crash site. Kuiken confirmed that those aircraft were flying with the third craft when it crashed.
Boston Globe
12-08-2025
- Boston Globe
Plane crashes into parked aircraft while landing at Montana airport, sparking fire
The small, city-owned airport is just south of Kalispell, a city of about 30,000 people in northwest Montana. Witnesses said a plane crash-landed at the end of the runway and careened into another aircraft, Kalispell Fire Chief Jay Hagen said. Advertisement The passengers were able to get out on their own after it came to a stop, Hagen said. Two were slightly hurt and treated at the airport, he said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Ron Danielson manages a nearby inn and said he heard and saw the crash before plumes of dark smoke filled the area. 'It sounded like if you were to stick your head in a bass drum and somebody smacked it as hard as they could,' he said. The flight originated in Pullman, Washington, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The plane was identified by the FAA as a Socata TBM 700 turboprop. It was built in 2011 and owned by Meter Sky LLC of Pullman, FAA records show. Company representatives did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment. Advertisement Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the FAA and NTSB, said incidents where planes crash into parked aircrafts happen a few times a year in general aviation. In one high-profile incident in February, a Learjet owned by Motley Crue singer Vince Neil veered off a runway in Scottsdale, Arizona, and crashed into a parked Gulfstream, killing one person. The NTSB said that crash may have been related to prior damage to the landing gear, but investigators haven't determined the cause.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Yahoo
Medical community heartbroken after fatal plane crash on Navajo Nation
Deadly Plane Crash Arizona ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal investigators on Wednesday were trying to piece together what caused a medical transport plane to crash on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, killing the four people on board and leaving the medical community in neighboring New Mexico heartbroken. The two pilots, flight nurse and paramedic who were onboard were based out of Albuquerque and had worked with hospitals throughout the area. While authorities had yet to release their names, colleagues and friends shared condolences and prayers on social media. Many shared details about the crew's dedication to patients and the incredible void left by the tragedy. The crew was on its way to pick up a patient from the federal Indian Health Service hospital in Chinle when the plane crashed near the airport there, Navajo authorities said. The plan was to return to Albuquerque. The Beechcraft King Air 300 was owned by CSI Aviation, which said in a statement it was devastated and that the four were more than just colleagues. 'Their courage, care, and dedication will never be forgotten,' the company said. 'Our hearts are with their families, friends, and loved ones.' According to CSI Aviation's website, the nationally accredited carrier never had an accident or incident and never had any FAA sanctions. It provides medical flights in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and South Dakota. Medical transports by air from the Navajo Nation are common because most hospitals are small and do not offer advanced or trauma care. The Chinle airport is one of a handful of airports that the tribe owns and operates on the vast 27,000-square-mile (70,000-square-kilometer) reservation that stretches into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah — the largest land base of any Native American tribe. Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, who is a former NTSB and FAA crash investigator, said it is difficult to say what caused this crash in a remote area like Chinle because so few details are readily available. The high altitude of Chinle, which sits just over 5,500 feet above sea level, and the high temperatures Tuesday around 95 degrees can make it harder for a plane to get the lift it needs to fly. But Guzzetti said that is usually more of an issue at takeoff — rather than landing — and this kind of Beechcraft Super King Air plane has plenty of power with its twin turboprop engines. The plane also shouldn't have been overweight because it had already burned off fuel during its flight and hadn't yet picked up the patient. At the time the plane was trying to land, the wind was gusting up to 28 knots, which could have made landing difficult at the Chinle airport, which has a narrow, 60-foot-wide runway. 'Gusting crosswinds to 28 knots can make things a little bit challenging,' Guzzetti said. 'The winds might have been an issue.' Aside from examining the wreckage, NTSB investigators will be reviewing flight data, any air traffic control communications, aircraft maintenance records and weather conditions at the time as they try to determine what caused the crash. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and will send it to NTSB headquarters in Washington for analysis. ___ AP Transportation Writer Josh Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska.
