NTSB releases ADN owner's first-hand account of Halibut Cove plane crash

On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board released new details on the July 2016 crashing of a small airplane piloted by Alaska Dispatch News publisher Alice Rogoff.

The updated docket includes Rogoff’s official first-hand account of the Cessna 206 crash, which she submitted to NTSB investigators several days later in lieu of an in-person interview at the advice of her attorney.

Rogoff had landed in Homer on the afternoon of July 3, 2016, after dropping her daughter off at the Nushagak River for a fishing trip. After refueling, Rogoff took off from Homer for the 10 minute flight to Halibut Cove, a trip she says she is "very familiar with."

In the statement, Rogoff said she was attempting to land the float-equipped plane, when the aircraft "hit the water with more speed and sooner than expected, causing it to bounce off the water.”

"Because of the short landing space, and my speed, I determined that it was better to abort, rather than salvage, my landing attempt," Rogoff wrote in the statement. "My recollection becomes less clear from that point, but I pushed in full throttle, reduced my flaps and tried to steer the aircraft in a manner that would avoid any obstacles in front of me."

According to the NTSB, six witnesses reported seeing the plane briefly touch down on the calm, glassy water before becoming airborne again. The aircraft was seen climbing to an altitude of 40 feet, before starting a steep left turn and striking a stand of tall trees. From there it fell into the water, about 100 feet from a tour boat.

Rogoff said the aircraft was in a nose-high attitude at this point, and she was unable to see in front of the aircraft.

"Thereafter, I have little recollection other than realizing that water was coming into the cabin and I needed to get out," she wrote. "I kicked out the pilot window and pulled myself from the cockpit."

Rogoff was uninjured, and a Good Samaritan vessel helped bring her to shore, NTSB said.

By the time Alaska State Troopers arrived to investigate the crash, Rogoff had already left the scene and troopers were unable to contact her. Brent Cole, Rogoff’s attorney, says she left the crash site, because she was wet, cold and needed to be checked out medically.