Report Issued in Deadly March Crash Near Townsend

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By KFBB News Team

Story Published: Nov 18, 2009 at 10:44 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2009 at 10:53 PM MST

Federal investigators say an airplane that crashed near Townsend in March was flying too low.

The National Transportation Safety Board says pilot Sparky Imeson used poor judgment in failing to maintain enough altitude before his plane crashed at the base of a mountain range near Canyon Ferry Lake.

In a report released this week, the National Transportation Safety Board found no mechanical issues with the aircraft and said the plane collided with trees before hitting the ground.

Imseon died in the crash. Friends say he was trying to take pictures of the site where he had survived a plane crash two years earlier. 64-year old Imeson was an experienced pilot, author and instructor known for his expertise in flying over mountainous terrain.

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