Pilot escapes take-off mishap

WASILLA — A local pilot had a scary moment Saturday when his plane lost power just after taking off from a Meadow Lakes area airstrip.

According to Alaska State Troopers, Wasilla’s James Riggs had just lifted off from the airstrip near South Johnsons Road when the incident occurred. Riggs was able to get the aircraft back on the runway, but couldn’t keep the plane from going off the end of the gravel strip and into heavy brush and debris. Riggs — the only person aboard the plane — walked away from the mishap, which troopers said caused some damage to the aircraft.

Emergency responders rushed to the Lincoln Village Airpark Saturday at around 3 p.m., but most quickly returned to their stations after learning Riggs was unharmed. The private, house-lined airpark is located in a residential neighborhood just south of the Parks Highway.