Federal investigators continue examining the fatal plane crash that killed wildlife biologist John Landsiedel at the Dillingham Airport Last Friday morning. At 9:15 a.m., Alaska State Troopers arrived to find a Piper J3C-65 CUB crashed on the runway.
Landsiedel 33, the pilot and sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after authorities arrived at the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration teams are now leading the ongoing crash investigation.
NTSB Alaska Chief Clint Johnson confirmed investigators are analyzing flight data and conducting witness interviews to determine what went wrong. Preliminary statements suggest a potential engine failure followed by loss of control shortly after the aircraft began its final departure attempt.
Johnson explained the plane had completed two touch-and-go landing practices before it crashed during what appeared to be a normal takeoff. The plane’s wreckage has been removed from the runway and secured as investigators continue documenting evidence at the airport.
Investigators are reviewing environmental factors, engine integrity, Landsiedel’s flight history, and qualifications as part of the analysis. No conclusions have been drawn yet, but the investigation will explore every angle before issuing a probable cause.
