NTSB finds cause of deadly helicopter crash near Skagway

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A federal investigative report found that a deadly helicopter crash in southeast Alaska was caused by the pilot’s choice to fly in poor weather and “self-induced pressure to complete the flight.”

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report on the June 2016 crash near Skagway that killed 66-year-old Christopher Maggio, a longtime pilot for Temsco Helicopter Inc.

According to the report, Maggio left a dog-sledding camp on the glacier and crashed into a mountainside about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) northeast of the camp. The crash occurred on the sixth of seven planned flights.

The report also notes the base manager didn’t cancel flights when the pilot reported icing conditions.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter accessed the crash site hours later, confirming Maggio died in the wreckage.

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