Former US Rep. Mary Peltola filed a civil lawsuit Friday in Bethel Superior Court, possibly seeking damages related to the plane crash that killed her husband, Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr. on Sept. 12, 2023.
The lawsuit names defendants Bruce Werba, a registered master guide, and Alaska Pike Safari’s and Wilderness Adventures LLC, owned by Werba. Neitz Aviation, is also named in the complaint. Frank Neitz is the former owner of Arctic Circle Air.
Peltola’s husband died during a guided moose hunting trip along the Yukon River in 2023. The small plane he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff from a remote wilderness camp. The accident drew national attention and widespread condolences, as Peltola was serving in Congress at the time.
The case, assigned to Bethel Superior Court Judge William Montgomery, was filed through Bethel attorney Myron E. Angstman and Anchorage attorney Russell L. Winner. Peltola is demanding a jury trial.
While the precise allegations are unknown to Must Read Alaska, the filing has a mark of someone seeking restitution for her husband’s death.
Werba, through his guiding business, conducts annual Yukon moose hunts. Neitz, known for decades of bush flying experience, previously owned a cargo airline before running his current aviation operation.
Bethel is one of the few jurisdictions in America known for high jury awards and it is a venue that plaintiffs’ lawyer prefer for that reason. In the courts, her claim to Buzzy Peltola’s estate is still open, and will likely be open for some time, at least until this matter is settled.
Peltola has been rumored to be preparing to run for statewide office, but these lawsuits throw that rumor into doubt.
How is it their fault if he overloaded the plane?
Defendant should countersue Peltola for a frivilous civil action and defamation (if there is).
Enhanced attorneys fees awarded to defendant.
Grifters have to grift. Husband perished in an unfortunate accident? Gotta get paid. Her and Lisa’s NPR and USAID gifts are kaphoots. Let the law suits begin. Someone owes them taxpayer dollars
So he flew the plane overloaded and crashed
Which means he as the pilot in command is responsible for loading and adhering to all regulations
Be interesting to see how a lawsuit against others makes any sense
Why am I not surprised by this ?
Wow, she is shady…
Gene, as PIC is at fault. The buck stops with him. However, that irrefutable fact will be looked over by a jury of her “peers”, and she knows that.
We’ll see, maybe the peons of Bethel, who are having their PFD funds transferred to gov workers by their own politicians, have had enough of the elite ‘leadership’ like Buzzy & Mary.
… With a nickname of “Buzzy” could his mental faculties have been impaired?
… Could the crash been in large part due to a lack of competency // skill-set?
… If it’s his aircraft and he’s the pilot is it not ”his” responsibility to ensure it’s loaded correctly, within its weight limitation, and airworthy for the flight conditions?
… Somethings in life have a certain destiny, as directed by the Hand of God, and both Mary and Buzzy destinies have come to a crashing end, one of which ended on that fateful end on Sept 12th (2023), and the other on Nov 5th (2024).
What’s his name got to do w/ this?
Perhaps your thinking a ‘buzz’ from weed?
Perhaps, but it is most likely a family name that he got as a child.
Most natives in Bethel have their English name, their Yupik name and their family nickname.
Perhaps, learning to fly, he liked to ‘buzz’ the homes of friends & family; could be a pilot tag I guess.
His little sister couldn’t say brother, therefore, Buzzy, Rob B. The two were very close. Buzzy never used drugs, raised his three children on his own, was generous to his family and friends and to anyone who needed help. Honored his mother and father, was always supportive, and helped when help was needed. God bless this wonderful man
I actually talked with Mary about her husband’s airplane crash in a chance meeting last year. The cause she indicated to me was that the plane was overloaded and Gene banked too hard to the right after takeoff and lost lift. She stated that it was just an accident, even though Gene was running out of daylight at the time of the accident.
I would hope you’ll contact the defence attorneys on this case, and give them this information.
Why sue all those people? Her husband was pilot in command of the plane he was flying and he knew what weight and balance means to flying without serious circumstances. He was overloaded and as a pilot, he knew it but was in a hurry to finish his trips and permitted the overload. Its up to the pilot to stop a problem or take care so he doesn’t have a problem.
Peltola is incompetent in all her decisions. This is just another one of the same material and decision process.
Her Anchorage lawyer: Russell Winner’s own website says: ” he is an experienced civil trial lawyer in both the federal and state courts. Russ is active in the Native Law, Natural Resources/Environmental Law, and Intellectual Property Law.” See ‘https://winnerlaw.com/attorney-winner.htm
So maybe a civil suit for “wrongful death” may be in the works. Not sure what his activity in the other areas of law will be applicable. In Alaska, the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits is generally two years from the date of the person’s death. This time limit is established under Alaska Statutes § 09.55.580.
I think he was flying a cub . Probably going to sue Piper as well . Ridiculous lawsuit . Jury of peers should be pilots and not a bunch of villagers . Only fault is in the pilot and the decisions he made that flight . No one else to blame . May the poor pilot rest in peace .
The Pilot is responsible for the safety of the flight. If the pilot broke the rules, he’s the fault. Those being sued, are they natives?
MRAK commenters wallow in someone else’s grief. Callous at best.
You’re a joke manny. You must be an attorney. Bottom feeding one at that. Old buzzy was engaged in a super high risk business, he knew the risks. He was pilot in command of his aircraft as far as I know, he owned whatever happened it was his responsibility. Now his widow goes for the deep pockets. It’s gross.
Grief is one thing. A $$$ grab after her husband did something stupid is quite another. The only callous act is bring the lawsuit. Still, I expect this to play well in her upcoming political campaign for 2026, though selling her donor lists won’t help much. Cheers –
She has run out of money!!!
She has alienated a lot of the Alaska Native community! Wanna bet she is looking to grab as much cash as possible to relocate somewhere where no one knows her and her shady dealings.
Everything I read of the plane crash showed nothing more and nothing less than a basic stick-and-rudder mistake too close to the ground for recovery. The crash was not mysterious in any way. I cannot remember if I read the NTSB report or media excerpts. No mechanical problems with the aircraft. Weight and balance were just within the limits, but not for that pilot doing that maneuver given those conditions – obviously. I did not see the toxicology findings but the pilot had reason to be tired, and we all make mistakes: It’s just that flying can be entirely unforgiving.
A jury trial in Bethel in which Mary Peltola is the plaintiff is almost certain to bring strong defendant’s counsel recommendations to settle at a big number. This could well be an eight figure bonanza for Peltola and a seven figure reward for her counsel. Who loses? Every Alaska aviation firm and every big game guide that has to buy insurance, and those insurance costs must be passed along to customers. Dollars transferred from the pockets of Alaskans to Mary’s pocket. On the golf course over on The Big Island her counsel might say it’s just dollars going to their rightful owner.
Well she lost her husband. That’s a tad bit worse than a money transfer.
Sounds like her husband got innocent people killed & she is the one that is suing (aka Money Grab) putting her name in the spotlight. Stop defending her…… I will remind you again that SHE is the one that is suing
100% right kayak.
Somehow, I see Bethel getting a casino out of this deal.
Lol ….. great insight!
This could very well backfire on her and she might end up paying them. Clearly she is a bottom feeder.
He was PIC In HIS airplane, everything he had going on was his responsibility 100%.
If you’re standing at the top of a cliff and you fall off is it the government’s fault.
Clearly, the falling need gravitational equity with those who are not falling.
To deny that fundamental human right is to be a vile gravitationist.
Ha ha
To a liberal (& their attorney) yes.
WHY didn’t the government fill that valley in? Safety First!
Were there approved guardrails properly installed by a qualified contractor? Was everyone adequately trained // certified // licensed to be standing at the top of a cliff? Did the Guv’ment grant approval to be standing at the top of a cliff?
Obviously, we live in a litigious society whereby you’re not responsible for your own reckless actions and your survivors are entitled to a windfall from everyone not responsible.
Clearly, she’s a bottom feeder, raping society, just like the Trawler Industry!
PS: I don’t see her running ….. she’s lazy (low energy?) a grandma, set for life & will do well as a lobbyist.
She quit the easiest job in the world …. sitting in Juno & pressing “yea or nay”
Democrats have no morals or shame
See above for clarification
Notice that it isn’t the Peltola children or the Peltola family who filed the suit.
Notice that the Buzzy Peltola estate is not settled yet, is still in court, and the Peltola family doesn’t care for Mary, and she doesn’t get the house on the hill even. This is about the money. Funny thing is that these are her old buddies she used to party with all the time, and they were close friends of Buzzy, now she’s suing them. Mary is all about the money.
Maybe Peltola will get a Husband #6 out of the entire deal. Isn’t that what she is really looking for?
She looking for campaign money Why else did it take her 2 years to do something?
Speaking of business assets…. Didn’t Proud Mary’s husband bring the concept of mining future “carbon gasses” to DC and Juneau. Perhaps, that is another business avenue that our former congresswoman should claim in her late spouse’s estate.
Have not heard about “carbon gas” mining lately, have you? Does that have to do with DEI and other woke concepts?
Knowing no details about this crash, I can say that if any aircraft operational limitations were exceeded, the lawsuit will die quickly. If not, the upside may be that drawing attention to the pressure a pilot feels in their job sometimes is noteworthy.
I have no idea as to the cost-benefit of this lawsuit, but if there’s nothing legitimizing it, the lawyers still win, and the defendants still pay, that’s sad.
All these people commenting that the PIC is always responsible are ignorant of the aviation industry. In this case, yes, it sounds like that may be the case—but don’t go pinning all the blame for every plane crash on the pilots. Do you have any idea how often parts break? How difficult it can be to suss out what’s broken and how? That some shops fabricate their own parts for discontinued planes (such as the Beaver), and that poor management/poor operational control also play a huge role in a lot of accidents? Or that passengers sometimes play a role too? Oh, and lots of bush flights are overloaded. It’s just Alaska’s dirty little secret because customers have to have all their junk.
All these comments speculating about him being high or mentally impaired or only a jury of pilots being able to judge or Peltola is obviously just being a bottom-feeder in this are asinine and dishonorable. I don’t have a high opinion of Peltola but for goodness’ sake she lost her husband. Show a little decency.
Hey ECG
I’m with you but Why doesn’t She show a little decency?
Her husband was the pilot in command.
He crashed and died. It’s very sad but it happens.
Is she blaming someone for His actions, or is she seeking an easy money payout from an insurance company?
Nether of those things are”decent”.
You are making a fair observation, but beware of what-aboutism. Again, I agree with you—this is most likely not an honorable thing for her to do. I’m taking issue with my own, though—conservatives. I’m so tired of us resorting to as hominems and treating our political enemies without common courtesy or fairness. I see it all the time, and it does not help our political argument. We need to be intellectually honest enough to have the same standards for everyone and the same common decency for everyone.
Grifter Peltola, did she finaly found judge to go with this BS?
On that ECG I whole heartedly agree.
At the end of the day, we are all in this together.
I think it’d be a lot easier to get along if there wasn’t the money driven media out there spewing nonsense from the left and right.
I miss the days when it wasn’t polite to bring up religion or politics in a social conversation.