Investigation continues into midair collision

KNIK-FAIRVIEW — More information emerged Monday about a midair plane collision that injured two pilots Saturday afternoon, one an Alaska Wildlife trooper.

Private pilot Jeffry Bara, 52, of Eagle River, and on-duty wildlife trooper Levi Duell, 35, of Anchorage, were injured in the crash. Their planes came to rest about 1,000 yards apart near a landing strip known as South Hollywood, near the intersection of West Cormorant Way and Eider Lane, according to investigators and emergency responders.

Duell’s plane — both were Piper PA-18 Super Cubs — belonged to the Alaska Division of Public Safety.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board say they don’t know yet whether the planes were on approach for the landing strip when they collided, according to Clint Johnson, chief of the Board’s Anchorage office. After interviews with eyewitnesses to the collision, investigators estimate the planes were flying about 1,000 feet above the ground when they collided, Johnson said. The area surrounding South Hollywood is uncontrolled airspace, meaning planes flying in that area do not coordinate movements.

“Keep in mind, we don’t know if one plane was landing or one was heading into the South Hollywood strip,” Johnson said.

General practice for uncontrolled air space is sometimes referred to as “see-and-avoid,” he said. Under those guidelines, a pilot approaching an airstrip who sees another aircraft approaching should break off approach, Johnson said. Pilots also sometimes use the radio frequency 122.8 megahertz to communicate among each other and coordinate landings without the aid of a control tower, he said.

Investigators have concluded the on-scene portion of the investigation, Johnson said. And the board could release a report on the crash as soon as Monday, he said.

“As far as the midair goes we’re definitely in the formative stages,” he said.

A full board report takes several months to a year — if not longer — to compile, present and approve, Johnson said.

“Every incident is different,” he said.

Bara received life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center, according to Alaska State Troopers media reports about the crash. Duell received moderate injuries and was transported from the scene via ambulance to Mat-Su Regional, according to the media release. Anchorage-area hospitals were unable to provide condition updates for either Bara or Duell. Neither victim was listed in the directory at Providence, officials said. Officials with Mat-Su Regional Medical Center did not return a request for comment Monday.

The planes were carrying no other passengers, and no one on the ground was injured as a result of the crash, according to troopers. Emergency personnel used six-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, helicopters, and snowmachines to access the crash sites, which were located among dense, local woods.

Less than eight hours after collision in this area, another plan crashed near Palmer Airport, according to NTSB officials and state troopers.

“We have slow times and we have busy times,” Johnson said. “Saturday was a busy time.”

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.