In a preliminary report, the National Transportation Safety Board says a plane involved in a deadly crash in Wasilla had been extensively rebuilt.
in Wasilla had been extensively rebuilt. Alaska State Troopers identified 71-year-old Jon Bergstedt as the pilot, and sole occupant, who died in the crash on Sept. 14.
The report states Bergstedt modified what was originally a Piper PA-12, which involved installing high-performance wing flaps, wing slats, a propeller and modified engine ignition components. A friend of Bergstedt reportedly told the NTSB, he transported the Piper PA-12 to Anderson Lake Airport to rebuild it in a friend’s hangar.
When he took off on his maiden voyage of the newly re-built plane, witnesses at the airport reported noticing the engine appeared to not be producing full takeoff power. They reported to the NTSB, they expected the pilot would abort takeoff, but instead, became airborne with a shallow climb. That’s when those same witnesses reported hearing the engine lose power before seeing the plane descend behind trees before crashing in a residential area.
The NTSB says the pilot was not in communication with air traffic control, and no distress calls had been made. The reports states all major plane parts had been accounted for in the initial investigation.
Wasilla Rebuilt Amateur Plane Pilot Piper PA-12 NTSB Investigation
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