Date
Alaska Pilot Charged With Obstruction of the NTSB
On December 13, 2017, Forest Kirst was indicted in U.S. District Court, Anchorage, Alaska, for obstructing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and piloting an aircraft without a valid airman’s certificate.
The investigation revealed that on August 24, 2014, an aircraft piloted by Kirst was involved in an accident near Atigun Pass, Alaska. Three passengers aboard the aircraft sustained serious injuries, and 35 days later, one of them died. The accident was investigated by NTSB and FAA. Kirst was charged with misleading NTSB about the altitude of his plane prior to the crash and by giving varying explanations about how the crash occurred.
Subsequently, FAA revoked his airman’s certificate on an emergency basis, but Kirst was later observed to be flying his aircraft.
Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.