Overview
- The NTSB’s final report identifies 520 pounds of moose meat—117 pounds over the Piper PA-18 Super Cub’s maximum takeoff weight—as a primary cause of the crash.
- Investigators found a set of moose antlers mounted on the right wing strut without FAA approval, creating additional drag and a lateral weight imbalance.
- Turbulent downdrafts at the remote St. Mary’s airstrip prevented the overloaded plane from gaining sufficient power or control authority to clear nearby terrain.
- Two hunters rendered aid at the crash site but the 400-mile distance from the nearest hospital made prompt medical treatment impossible, resulting in Peltola’s death within two hours.
- On July 18, Mary Peltola filed a civil negligence suit against her husband’s employer and the aircraft owner, alleging dangerous operating conditions and regulatory noncompliance.