Plane that crashed, killing husband of ex-Rep. Mary Peltola, had too much moose meat and was dragged by antlers
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).
Source: CBS News/AP
July 23, 2025 / 7:39 AM EDT
Juneau, Alaska — A small plane that crashed in 2023 while carrying moose meat for hunters in remote western Alaska, killing the husband of former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, was overweight for takeoff and encountered drag from a set of antlers mounted outside, federal investigators said in a report released Tuesday.
The National Transportation Safety Board, in its final report on the crash that killed Eugene Peltola Jr., who was the only person on board the aircraft, listed several factors among its probable cause findings. They included decisions by Peltola to fly the plane above its maximum takeoff weight and affix a set of moose antlers on the right wing strut that caused a drag, along with turbulent flight conditions in the area.
Downdrafts, "along with the overweight airplane and the added drag and lateral weight imbalance caused by the antlers on the right wing, would likely have resulted in the airplane having insufficient power and/or control authority to maneuver above terrain," the report states.
"Number one was, obviously, the overweight condition — no ifs, ands, or buts there," CBS Anchorage affiliate KYES-TV quotes NTSB Alaska Region Chief Clint Johnson as saying. "The parasitic drag from the antlers that were attached to the right wing, and then also the last thing would be the wind, the mechanical wind turbulence at the end of the takeoff area, which unfortunately, led to this accident. "If you would have been able to take one of those items out, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. But those things all in combination led to this tragic accident."
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-crash-husband-ex-rep-mary-peltola-moose-meat-antlers-drag-ntsb/
Full headline: Plane that crashed, killing husband of ex-Rep. Mary Peltola, had too much moose meat and was dragged by antlers, NTSB says
= new reply since forum marked as read
They chartered a small plane to take them into the Rockies for a week hunting moose. They managed to bag six. As they were loading the plane to return, the Pilot said the plane could take only 4 moose.
The two guys objected strongly. "Last year we shot six. The pilot let us take them all and he had the same plane as yours."
Reluctantly, the pilot gave in and all six were loaded. The plane took off. However, while attempting to cross some mountains, even on full power, the little plane couldn't handle the load and went down.
Somehow, surrounded by the moose bodies, only the Yanks survived the crash.
After climbing out of the wreckage, one Yank asked the other, "Any idea where we are?" He replied, "I think we're pretty close to where we crashed last year." 
