What happened
On the morning of July 31, 2020, two aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision approximately 2.5 miles northeast of the Soldotna airport in Alaska. The first aircraft, a de Havilland DHC-2 (Beaver) registered as N4982U, was operating as a Part 135 on-demand charter flight for High Adventure Charter. This float-equipped aircraft had departed from Longmere Lake, near Soldotna, around 0824, with the intention of transporting five passengers to a remote fishing destination on the western side of Cook Inlet.
Simultaneously, a Piper PA-12 registered as N258 and N2587M was operating under Part 91 as a private flight. This aircraft departed from the Soldotna Airport (PASX) at roughly the same time, heading northeast toward Fairbanks, Alaska. Tracking data indicated that as the de Havilland DHC-2 crossed the Sterling Highway, it was climbing through 1,175 feet mean sea level (msl) while traveling northwest at 78 knots. The Piper PA-12 was flying parallel to the highway at a similar altitude of 1,175 feet msl, traveling northeast at 71 knots.
The two aircraft collided at an altitude of approximately 1,175 feet msl. An eyewitness at the scene reported seeing the Piper PA-12 strike the rear left side of the de Havilland DHC-2 fuselage. Following the impact, the witness observed the left wing of the de Havilland DHC-2 detach, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled, counterclockwise spiral descent. The Piper PA-12 was not seen following the impact.
The collision resulted in seven fatalities, including the pilot of the Piper PA-12 and the pilot and five passengers aboard the de Havilland DHC-2.