The pilot of a float plane that crashed in to North Long Lake at about 1 p.m. on Aug. 5 has been identified.
John Spalj, 55, of Deerwood, was not seriously injured in the crash that submerged his float plane, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Department reported.
A man who was fishing with family members on the main bay of North Long Lake, but who wished to remain anonymous, said it appeared Spalj had the plane under control while coming in for a landing on the lake before crashing into the lake.
Cause of the crash is still undetermined.
Comments (5)
Add commentOops JR.
Me thinks your going to catch alot of flack over that.
In the photo of the plane
In the photo of the plane wreck the airplane was upside down in the water, the wheels of the amphibious floats were extended. It appears the pilot made a mistake in trying to land on water with the wheels of the amphibious floats down. According to me the cause of the accident is shown right there in the accident photo.
Left
After the plane crashed on the lake, he got into a boat with someone and took off for a few hours. The authorities had to track him down.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Da plane,da plane.
I live near where the plane had been pulled up on shore. "Bugs" is correct.
I was standing near the plane when I overheard the FAA inspectors say the same thing with the runway wheels. Costly pilot error.
Here's the amazing part, I watched that plane take off and fly away Friday afternoon.
Picture link (if it works).
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo302/Snowfool66/Float_Plane_Recovere...
The plane is a "Carbon Cub" value is something near $200,000.
Re: Left
FYI He absolutely didn't leave and he certainly didn't leave with the fisherman who picked him up. I know that for a fact; I was there.