Houston plane crash details released

WASILLA — A preliminary report issued by the NSTB and the FAA has ruled out most types of mechanical failure as the cause of a fatal plane wreck Oct. 8.

Joseph Mielke, 23, of Big Lake, died after his plane slammed into North Hawk Lane and caught fire about 1:30 p.m.

“A post-accident examination of the airplane by the NTSB IIC (investigator-in-charge), and an FAA aviation safety inspector from the Wasilla Flight Standards District Office revealed no mechanical irregularities that would have precluded normal operation,” the report reads in part.

Witnesses and family friends told investigators Mielke had flown from Big Lake Airport to a 1,200-foot gravel strip known as Cubdivision Airport that morning. The plane landed at Cubdivision about 12:30 p.m., and about an hour later, a witness watched Mielke’s plane take off, turn left 270 degrees and cross over the runway again. When the airplane reached 300 feet, the climb shallowed as the plane headed northeast. Mielke began another turn, then the airplane abruptly rolled left, according to the NTSB report.

“Then it descended vertically, nose first, and it subsequently descended behind a stand of tall trees and out of sight of the witnesses,” the report reads.

Investigators concluded the plane struck the road with the nose pointed low, and impacted vertically, according to the report.

“A post-impact fire ensued, which incinerated most of the wreckage,” the report reads.

Investigators were waiting for a detailed examination of the engine to be completed, according to the report.

Contact Reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.