Crash

On Tuesday, July 22, the National Transportation Safety Board released its final report on the Sept. 2023 plane crash near St. Mary’s that resulted in the death of pilot Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., 57.

The civil suit filed in Bethel Superior Court on July 18 alleges negligent actions by hunting guide Bruce Werba and two companies under Werba’s control caused Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola Jr.’s death.

No injuries have been reported, but the plane sustained significant damage, according to federal air safety officials. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Four people who died when a plane they were flying in crashed near St. Mary’s last month faced weather conditions that caused another plane to turn back shortly before the accident, according to a preliminary report released Oct. 3 by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Two of the four men who died were Alaska residents and two lived out of state, according to troopers.

The Cessna 207 was operated by Bethel-based Yute Commuter Service. According to the NTSB, at least two of the passengers aboard were company employees.

The Cessna 207 was operated by Yute Commuter Service and was believed to be carrying employees of the company rather than charter or scheduled passengers, according to Clint Johnson, Alaska chief of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Investigators looking into the cause of a fatal plane crash last month near McGrath have recovered the wreckage and will soon begin examining it for evidence of mechanical problems.

It's not yet clear what caused the Aug. 31 crash that killed 58-year-old Cary Foster, the sole occupant of a Piper PA-18 Super Cub.