Palmer man dies in plane crash

PALMER — A plane crash near Trunk Road Sunday killed a Palmer pilot and wounded his passenger.

Alaska State Troopers responded to the call at a private airstrip near the end of Marcell Loop, off of Trunk Road between the Parks and Palmer-Wasilla Highway at 4:45 p.m. Sunday.

They found Robert Gilmore, 55, of Palmer, had been attempting to land a yellow Piper Super Cub at the private strip when a gust of wind caught his plane and he crashed into the tree, according to a trooper press statement.

Gilmore’s passenger, Deborah Molsberry, 24, of Bellingham Wash., had minor injuries and was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, troopers reported. Gilmore was declared dead on scene, according to troopers.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.