A small private aircraft has crashed near Willow, seriously injuring the pilot, who is believed to be Ramey Smyth, the well-known Iditarod Sled Dog racer.
The aircraft, an Aeronca 7AC Champion with tail number N84726, went down under unknown circumstances on or near a runway in the Willow area. The crash occurred during an unspecified phase of flight, and no other individuals were aboard, according to initial reports. The plane is registered to Smyth.
Smyth survived the crash but sustained injuries that included broken bones. No fatalities or other injuries were reported.
In his late 40s, Smyth was born and raised in Alaska and is the son of Iditarod mushers Bud Smyth, who raced in the first Iditarod and the late Lolly Medley who raced in the second Iditarod.
Smyth lives in Willow with his wife and family. He has raced the Iditarod 27 times placing in the top 10 a dozen times. He won the Kuskokwim 300 in 1995 and has raced in, and won, many other events throughout the state.
Smyth has said he began mushing “as soon as I could walk” and won the Jr. Iditarod twice before his first Iditarod in 1994.
He is a full time log home builder and owns and operates Smyth Logwork and Construction in Willow.
The extent of damage to the aircraft remains unknown. The National Transportation and Safety Board will likely open an investigation.
Pray for speedy full recovery, lessons learned, and future success.
Curiously, Ramey Smyth does not come up as holding a FAA certificate to fly/pilot a small plane. See Airmen Inquiry Search Page
‘https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/airmeninquiry/Main.aspx
Well, the numbers here may not be precise, but the saying goes: In AK, one out of every 5 people flies, one out of 6 has a license, and one out of 7 knows how!
I don’t think you need a pilot license to fly
a small plane over unpopulated areas ????
I find it interesting That you’re nosey enough to bother checking on someone like him. You need to get a life. Hoping for a speedy recovery for him. It was a very severe crash.
Hay fish actually checking something like that is very bizarre.
Maybe A Fish is FAA
Student pilot license post solo. You can find if you dig deep enough. Following standard procedures .
Thx for concerns . Good luck to all.
No one needs a pilot certificate to fly an airplane! If you sign on to administrative law, you’re expected to follow the rules though.
Glad you survived, Ramey. This is the first I heard of your crash. Prayers for a speedy recovery, nephew. You probably know I’m a licensed pilot, with over a 1,000 logged hours. Your mom always wanted me to fly to Alaska, but the Canadian rules appeared overwhelming.