Fatal Propeller Strike During Loading at Pevine Bar Airstrip (N985W)

Incident Overview and Location Details On June 4, 2015, at approximately 1100 Alaska daylight time, the pilot-in-command of N985W, a Piper PA-18-150, was struck by a spinning propeller while loading the aircraft. The accident occurred 15 miles east of McCarthy, Alaska, at Pevine Bar Airstrip within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The aircraft sustained minor damage, while the certificated airline transport pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to Hunter Creek, LLC, and operated by Alaska Cub Training Specialists, Palmer, Alaska, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.