Pilot killed in Matanuska River plane crash was Palmer man
Nov. 12—Alaska State Troopers on Friday identified the pilot who died when his plane crashed into the Matanuska River as 46-year-old Palmer resident Joshua Seagrave.
The crash occurred Thursday afternoon in the river near Mile 77 of the Glenn Highway, close to Chickaloon, Alaska State Troopers said in an online report.
Troopers responded after receiving a report just before 1 p.m. The National Transportation Safety Board also sent an investigator to the crash location.
Seagrave was the pilot and sole occupant of the Piper PA-18 Super Cub, according to NTSB Alaska chief Clint Johnson and troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain. He was confirmed dead at the scene.
According to troopers, the pilot of another aircraft in the area at the time saw the Super Cub "hit a cable and crash."
Johnson said Friday it was not yet clear what the cable was for, but that information would be part of the investigation into the crash.
Members of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough dive team removed the plane from the water with assistance from Matanuska Towing & Recovery, troopers said. Seagrave's body was removed from the water and turned over to a local funeral home.
