UPDATED: July 20, 2015
Alaska State Troopers have identified a Trapper Creek man who died Sunday evening after his plane struck a tree.
According to an AST dispatch posted Sunday evening, 54-year-old Michael Zagula died in the crash, which was reported to troopers at about 7:10 p.m.
"Troopers and (emergency medical services) personnel responded to the location and determined (Zagula) was deceased due to the crash," troopers wrote. "Initial investigation by troopers indicated Zagula was flying over the area of his daughter's wedding reception and the landing gear from his aircraft, a Cessna U206G, struck a tree and caused the aircraft to crash."
AST spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said in an email to Channel 2 that the crash occurred in the vicinity of Petersville Road in Trapper Creek.
Clint Johnson, the NTSB's chief Alaska investigator, said investigator Brice Banning has been assigned to the crash and is scheduled to depart for the crash site early Monday.
Troopers said Zagula's next of kin were present at the scene. His body will be sent to the state medical examiner's office in Anchorage for an autopsy.
Channel 2's Tulsi Patil contributed information to this story.
| Date: | 19-JUL-2015 |
| Time: | 07:00 p.m. |
| Type: |  Cessna U206G Stationair |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N734VB |
| C/n / msn: | U20604875 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Trapper Creek, Alaska -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
The landing gear of the plane struck some trees during a low pass, resulting in a crash of the plane. The pilot died in the crash.
Sources:
http://www.adn.com/article/20150719/pilot-dies-plane-crash-near-trapper-creek
http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/talkeetnaarea-plane-crash-kills-1-according-to-ntsb/34248978
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N734VB.html
http://john2031.com/cessna/206/airplane_pictures/n734vb_1.JPG