High winds played a role in the fatal plane crash near Big Lake, according to the NTSB

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says strong wind gusts played a role in a fatal seaplane crash near Big Lake earlier this month.

The crash sank the Cessna 180 plane in East Butterfly Lake – about 10 miles from Big Lake – and killed 70-year-old Anchorage pilot Paul Spiro.

Alaska State Troopers originally said Spiro’s wife was the only other person on board the plane and survived the crash. She was able to swim to shore and alert a local resident to the incident before authorities took her to a hospital.

According to the NTSB report, Spiro attempted to launch from East Butterfly Lake around 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 and his wife noticed “strong, gusty, variable wind conditions.”

During takeoff, a sudden and strong gust of wind hit the aircraft as it flew low over tall trees, causing the right wing to touch the treetops and land upside down in the lake.

The woman reportedly escaped the plane and swam to shore, where she told a local resident that her husband was still in the plane in the lake and was “presumed deceased.”

Wildlife troopers and five divers helped retrieve Spiro’s body from the cockpit early the next morning.

Spiro’s body was taken to Anchorage for an autopsy.

The NTSB typically releases the preliminary report on aircraft crashes before releasing a more detailed report, which typically details the root cause of the incident.

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