Investigators Respond to Fatal Plane Crash Near Homer

Alaska State Troopers say George Vonderheide, 66, of Girdwood died Friday when his floatplane crashed in shallow water on the east side of the Wosnesenski River near Homer. He was believed to be the only person on board the aircraft. (Courtesy Alaska State Troopers / August 31, 2012)

By Christine Kim and Chris Klint Channel 2 News KTUU

5:35 p.m. AKDT, August 31, 2012
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
A Girdwood man died when his plane hit power lines and crashed near Homer Friday afternoon, according to Alaska State Troopers.

AST spokesperson Beth Ipsen said the plane went down in shallow water on the east side of the Wosnesenski River, between China Poot Bay and Neptune Bay. The 7GCBC Bellanca's pilot, 66-year-old George Vonderheide, is believed to be its only occupant.

According to Ipsen, Vonderheide had filed a flight plan and was apparently following a river drainage en route to a lake when he crashed. Visibility was poor and the cloud ceiling was low at the time of the crash.

NTSB investigator Clint Johnson says the float-equipped single-engine plane crashed at about 3 p.m. Friday.

Troopers were on scene at the crash site Friday, while the NTSB planned to arrive by late evening or early Saturday.

Another Homer plane crash claimed the life of former state lawmaker Cheryll Heinze on July 11, when a Cessna 206 with five Matanuska Electric Association employees on board flipped in high winds while landing on Beluga Lake.

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