FAIRBANKS, AK—
An Anchorage federal grand jury Wednesday indicted a Fairbanks pilot on two counts of obstructing a National Transportation Safety Board investigation and flying without a valid airman's license.
Forest M. Kirst, 60, was piloting a single-engine, four-seat Ryan Navion A plane with three passengers on board when he crashed on a hillside approximately 400 feet from the summit of the Brooks Range near Atigun Pass Aug. 24, 2014. Kirst and his passengers were seriously injured, and one of the passengers died 35 days after the crash.
The plane was operated by Fairbanks-based Kirst Aviation, an on-demand commercial sightseeing business.
The NTSB investigated and issued a final report in March of this year saying the probable cause of the accident was Kirst's “improper inflight planning and improper decision to deliberately operate the airplane at low altitude in close proximity to obstructions and rising terrain.”
The report also found Kirst had a "history of accidents, incidents, re-examination and check-ride failures" and that the Federal Aviation Administration erred in granting him a commercial air transport certificate "despite the pilot's history and concerns voiced by numerous FAA personnel during the certification process.”
According to a news release issued Thursday by the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, the indictment alleges Kirst "mislead the NTSB about the altitude of his plane prior to the crash" and gave varying explanations of how the crash occurred.
Kirst's airman pilot certificate was revoked by the FAA, but Kirst was later seen flying his aircraft, according to the news release.
If convicted, Kirst faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The sentence will be based on the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history Kirst may have.
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Pilot charged in crash inquiry says propeller was faulty
December 14, 2017
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) —
A federal grand jury has indicted a Fairbanks pilot on charges of misleading crash investigators and flying without a valid airman's certificate.
Forest Kirst is charged with two counts of obstruction before the National Transportation Safety Board.
Reached by phone, Kirst said he has two appeals pending before the NTSB. He also noted his pending lawsuit suit against companies that he claims sold him a defective propeller that led to an August 2014 crash.
The crash near Atigun Pass seriously injured Kirst and three tourists from New Brunswick, Canada. One passenger died 35 days later.
Prosecutors say Kirst misled investigators about the altitude of his plane and gave varying explanations for the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration revoked Kirst's license. Prosecutors say Kirst later was observed flying.
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Kirst Aviation
Flight Training in Fairbanks Alaska
Based on the East Ramp of Fairbanks International Airport, Kirst Aviation strives to provide an affordable, quality flight training experience. Personalized instruction is our specialty, and our instructor has over 17 years of teaching experience. Additionally, our planes are some of the only aircraft available for rental in the Fairbanks area. Fly classics such as the Ercoupe and Navion L17A to the modern Cessna 152 equipped with Garmin 430W. Kirst Aviations instructor has had bilingual, and English as a second language training. Foreign students welcome! Whether you live in Fairbanks and want to pursue your pilot’s license, or are a visiting pilot and would like to fly over the area, we hope you will consider Kirst Aviation for your Aircraft Rental and Instruction needs! Take an Introductory Discovery Flight today.
