Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that a federal grand jury in Anchorage has returned an indictment charging Forest M. Kirst, 60, of Fairbanks, Alaska, with two counts of obstruction before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and piloting an aircraft without a valid airman’s certificate.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Retta Randall, on Aug. 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 the passengers died as a result of his injuries. The accident was investigated by the NTSB and by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Kirst is charged with misleading the NTSB about the altitude of his plane prior to the crash and misleading the NTSB with varying explanations as to how the crash occurred.
Subsequently, Kirst’s Airman Pilot Certificate was revoked on an emergency basis by the FAA. Kirst was later observed to be flying his aircraft.
If convicted, Kirst faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine, or both. Under federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in the case.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
