Banker, cotton executive from Fresno among the injured in fatal Alaska plane crash

At least four central San Joaquin Valley residents were among the victims of a plane crash in rural southwestern Alaska that claimed three lives and injured seven.

Providence Alaska Medical Center confirmed Rodger Glaspey, 65, of Fresno, was transported to its facilities after the crash Tuesday. Spokesman Mikal Canfield said Glaspey was “in good condition” but declined to comment further.

Also injured was Robert J. Dingler, 62, of Fresno, said long-time friend Dwight Miller. Dingler identified himself on his LinkedIn profile as director of food and agribusiness for Rabobank.

“He was pretty broken up,” said Miller, who went to high school with Dingler. Miller said Dingler suffered broken ribs, a broken pelvis, a big bruise on his head, two black eyes and was scrapped up. Miller said Dingler’s family flew up to Alaska to be with him.

According to the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Glaspey is the president and majority owner of the Rainbow King Lodge – the plane’s owner.

Glaspey is director of western operations for Allenberg Cotton Co., an international cotton distributor whose corporate office is in Cordova, Tenn., east of Memphis. The company bought Fresno-based Dunavant of California, an international cotton merchant, where Glaspey served previously as president.

Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan A. Peters said troopers in Dillingham, Alaska, were notified of the crash at 6:24 a.m. They found the downed plane near East Wind Lake just north of Iliamna Airport in Iliamna, Alaska.

Peters identified the two Valley men killed as Dr. James P. Fletcher, 70, of Clovis, and Tony DeGroot, 80, of Hanford. James Specter, 69, of Shavertown, Pa., also died. Seven people were taken to a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska – two with minor injuries and five with serious to critical injuries.

Fletcher was a periodontist with a private practice in Fresno, and DeGroot owned and operated the DeGroot Dairy.

Fletcher also served as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Fresno. Glaspey is a member there.

The Rev. Jeremy Vaccaro said in a statement that Fletcher was a beloved and active member of the church.

“His (Fletcher’s) faith in Christ was evident in both word and deed as a devoted servant to our church and community,” Vaccaro said. “We are grieving together with hope in the risen Christ Jesus. We are praying together for the Fletcher family and the families of all those involved in this tragic accident.”

In addition to Glaspey, five other passengers were injured: Justin L. Schillaci, 27, of Pennsylvania; Robert R. Westbrook, 23, of Oregon; Seth J. Hofland, 25, of Utah; and David W. Wood, 67, of Pennsylvania.

The pilot was identified as John Furnia, 54, of New York. He was also injured, Peters said.

The National Transportation Safety Board has taken over an investigation of the crash.

Safety board spokesman Clint Johnson said two investigators are in Iliamna. Parts of the plane will be transported to the board’s warehouse in Anchorage for analysis, but it could take several months to complete the investigation.

The plane was a de Havilland DHC-3T floatplane owned and operated by Rainbow King Lodge in Iliamna. It had just departed, Johnson said, before the crash occurred.

Johnson said the closest weather station was about 2 miles from the crash site, so the board is relying on eyewitness testimony to determine the conditions. Around 30 Iliamna residents came to help first responders tend to the crash victims. About 300 people live in the rural community, he added.

The Alaska Dispatch News reported that the home of Myrtle Anelon, which was closest to the crash site, became a gathering spot for relatives of those on board as well as community members.

At 6:15 a.m., a Rainbow King Lodge employee knocked on Anelon’s door, and her granddaughter Kirsty Coghill answered. “He explained that there was just a crash and he needs all the light that he can” get, she told Alaska Dispatch News.

At 10:30 a.m. an Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 airplane landed at Ilianma Airport, and medics on board stabilized the injured for transport to Anchorage.

Representatives from Rainbow King Lodge could not be reached for comment. The business took down its website and Facebook page after the crash.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Banker, cotton executive from Fresno among the injured in fatal Alaska plane crash."