|
|
|
NTSB Report Indicates Wasilla Pilot, Instructor
Was Killed By Spinning Propeller |
| |
|
June 11, 2015 - NTSB report indicates a Wasilla
pilot, 62-year-old Clark (Jay) Baldwin was
struck and killed by a moving Piper PA-18-150
Super Cub's (N985W) plane propeller.
Baldwin
accidently walked into the back of the spinning
propeller and was struck three times.
Witnesses reported that on June 4th, four
airplanes, flying as a group, had landed at
Pevine Bar Airstrip in the Wrangell, St. Elias National Park,
McCarthy,
Alaska. To stave off swarms of
mosquitos while loading the airplanes, the
engines of all four aircraft were started and
allowed to operate at idle, with the cockpits
unattended.
|
|
 |
|
While loading gear on the right side of the
airplane, the airplane to the left of the
accident airplane, also a Piper, PA-18, began
slowly moving forward. The pilot of N985W
attempted to go around the front of his airplane
towards the left wing to prevent the two
airplanes from making contact, that's when
Baldwin who was a certificated airline transport
pilot, was struck by the propeller and killed.
The airplane sustained minor damage, the planes
were heading to Cordova when they touched down
in the park to do off-airport landing and gravel
bar training, a park ranger said last week. The
airplane was registered to
Hunter Creek, LLC and operated by Alaska Cub Training
Specialists, Palmer,
Alaska. According a
company website, Baldwin and his wife own and
operate Alaska’s Cub Training Specialists, which
is a flight school located in Wasilla, Alaska.
|
|
|
