30-04-2025
Bizarre new theory about why Alaska tour plane crashed and killed two people
Officials have said a deadly plane crash at a beach in Alaska this week may have unfolded after the pilot swerved to avoid a loose dog on the runway.
A Cessna 207 tour plane carrying three people went down just before 2pm on Monday, killing pilot Daniel Bunker, 48, and passenger Jenny Irene Miller, 37.
An unidentified male passenger was also on board, and he was rushed to hospital in Anchorage with 'serious' injuries, officials added.
Witnesses said the horror unfolded after a dog ran loose on the runway in Nanwalek, where the plane had been due to land.
'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 National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska regional office, told Alaska's News Source.
'The pilot initiated a go-around. 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.'
Johnson said investigators believe the plane may have been hit with an aerodynamic stall, though the investigation is still ongoing.
'We don't want to draw any conclusions at this point,' he said.
'We still are in the very formative stages. We are going to be looking very closely at that airplane.
'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.'
Johnson said the plane crashed on the beach close to the water, and rescuers are working to extract it.
'Right after the accident ... rescuers were able to pull that wreckage up a little bit further away from the water, but nevertheless it is in the tide zone,' he said.
The plane was operated by Smokey Bay Air, a tour operator which offers trips to Seldovia and bear-viewing expeditions from Homer Airport.
The NTSB said investigators are working with the operator and its insurance company to coordinate the recovery of the wreckage.
Pilot Daniel Bunker was from Homer, while Jenny Irene Miller was from Anchorage. It's not known where the third passenger was from.
Bunker was a father-of-two with his partner Melissa. He frequently posted family photographs on his Instagram account.
He was also a naturalist brown bear guide, amateur photographer and volunteer firefighter.
Bunker was remembered by Seldovia Village Tribe as 'a skilled pilot and kind soul who served our communities with dedication'.
Miller was an artist and freelance photographer who created portraits of Alaska Natives and their homelands.
She leaves behind her partner Nora, according to a fundraising page for her family.
Miller worked as a board member for Native Movement, who said her Iñupiaq name is Wiagañmiu.
'She broadened the expression of both Alaska Native and Queer identity, making it possible for more people to be our authentic selves,' the organization said.
Friends remembered her as an 'amazing human being' who would be 'deeply missed by many'.
Her friend Tikaan Galbreath paid tribute to her as a 'bright and kind human doing good work for the world'.
'She was a good friend who always reminded me to be thoughtful of others and caring even when it's hard to be,' Galbreath wrote on her fundraising page.
'Every time I had the chance to be with her, it felt like the simple joys were more clearly present and laughter was easy to find. I'll sorely miss her friendship.'
Officials are continuing to interview witnesses, and anyone with information is encouraged to get in touch by email to witness@
