Aviation

Pilot dies in crash of small plane near Kodiak airport

A man died Sunday afternoon when his small plane crashed in Kodiak, officials said.

The plane departed Kodiak Municipal Airport around 2 p.m. and crashed soon after, said Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board Alaska office.

The plane came to a rest near East Elementary School, less than a mile from the airport, said Lt. Francis de la Fuente of the Kodiak Police Department.

The pilot was the only person onboard and died at the scene, Johnson said. His name has not yet been released.

The plane was a Wag-Aero 2+2, which Johnson described as an amateur-build kit airplane that looks similar to a Super Cub.

It was not immediately clear where the pilot was going or what caused the crash, Johnson said. Several people witnessed the crash, de la Fuente said.

NTSB investigators are expected to reach Kodiak today to continue the investigation, Johnson said.

Tess Williams

Tess Williams is a reporter focusing on breaking news and public safety. Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Contact her at twilliams@adn.com.

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