NANWALEK, Alaska — Federal investigators have released a preliminary report on the April 28 plane crash near Nanwalek that killed two people, including a former Kenai Peninsula school employee, and seriously injured a third.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, published this week, confirms the aircraft—a Cessna T207 operated by Smokey Bay Air—crashed at approximately 1:55 p.m. as it approached the Nanwalek Airport on a scheduled commuter route from Homer. The flight was carrying 40 gallons of fuel, over 500 pounds of cargo including mail and baggage, and three occupants.
According to the report, the pilot, 48-year-old Daniel Bunker of Homer, and passenger Jenny Miller, 37, of Anchorage, were both killed. A third passenger survived but sustained serious injuries.
Investigators say the plane approached Nanwalek’s Runway 19 from the north and appeared to sidestep right of the centerline before entering a sharp left bank and spiraling to the ground. Witnesses and another Smokey Bay pilot in a trailing aircraft reported hearing Bunker announce over the radio, “I’m going around, there’s something on the runway,” just before the crash. Some on the ground also noted the presence of a dog on the airstrip.
The surviving passenger, interviewed at an Anchorage hospital, corroborated the accounts, describing a steep, abnormal turn followed by a rapid loss of control.
The plane ultimately crashed onto a nearby beach, about 350 feet from the runway’s end. Photos released by the NTSB show the aircraft with significant structural damage, including separated wings and deformation from apparent rotational impact forces. No pre-impact mechanical failures were observed, though the investigation is ongoing and final conclusions have not yet been drawn.
Bunker, who had previously worked as a paraprofessional at Paul Banks Elementary School in Homer, was remembered by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland as “a great man” who was deeply loved in the community. “He’s going to be sorely missed,” Holland said, adding thanks to staff and community members who assisted with the immediate response.
The crash remains under investigation. The wreckage has been moved to a secure facility for further examination. The NTSB has not yet determined a probable cause.
Nanwalek, a remote village on the southern Kenai Peninsula, is accessible only by air or boat. The crash response included help from local residents, Guardian Flight, LifeMed, Maritime Helicopters, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Alaska State Park Rangers.
