The National Transportation Safety Board has released information regarding the July 31 airplane collision that took the life of Representative Gary Knopp and six others.
The report states that Knopp’s Piper PA-12 airplane collided with a de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, killing both pilots and the five passengers on-board. The collision took place at 8:27 a.m. over Soldotna.
No clear cause of the accident was released as neither plane was required to have a crashworthy flight data or voice recorder. The NTSB has previously stated that determining a definitive cause of the incident could take over a year.
It was revealed, however, that Knopp was flying despite not being actively licensed to fly. In June 2012, he was denied his medical certification due to vision problems. He appealed that decision, but the denial was sustained in July 2012. Knopp’s plane had an invalid registration.
Knopp, age 67, and Gregory Bell, age 57, were the two pilots, both from Soldotna. Knopp was the sole occupant of his plane, while Bell’s plane also carried a guide, David Rogers, age 40, of Kansas, as well as four passengers who were all from South Carolina: Kirstin Wright, age 23, Mackay Hulsey, age 24, Heather Hulsey, age 25, and Caleb Hulsey, age 26.
