Plane crash victim mourned as ‘gracious’ woman
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety board arrived in Destruction Bay today to assist with the investigation into a fatal plane crash there on Monday night.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety board arrived in Destruction Bay today to assist with the investigation into a fatal plane crash there on Monday night.
Just after 9 p.m., a small, single-engine float plane attempted to land on Kluane Lake. The plane, a Maule M-5, looked to be making a perfect landing before one wing dipped into the water and the plane flipped, according to an eyewitness.
The pilot, 69-year-old Steve Horn, managed to escape, clinging to one of the plane’s floats until help arrived.
His wife, 63-year-old Renda Horn, could not get out of her seat and died in the plane in spite of rescuers’ attempts to save her.
Although the transportation safety board will not be doing a full-scale investigation, officials are in Destruction Bay to help the Yukon’s coroner and the Horns’ insurance company with their inquiries.
“We did a small investigation to classify this incident,” John Cottreau said on behalf of the safety board today.
He added the board only launches full investigations “when investigators feel there is an opportunity to advance transportation safety system-wide in Canada.”
This is not such a case, he said.
Meanwhile, members of the Horn family were expected to meet Steve in Destruction Bay today.
Steven and Renda have lived in Alaska for the past 33 years, settling first in Anchorage, then moving to Homer about 10 years ago.
“She was a very inspirational woman,” Michael Armstrong, a journalist with the Homer News, recalled today.
“Whenever I interviewed her, she was very gracious, very accommodating. She would pitch stories, never about herself, always about her musicians.”
Renda was the founder of the Anchorage Boys and Girls Choir (1979) and for the last few years has focused her musical efforts on the Inlet Winds Community Band in Homer.
“She fit right in with the community and made friends instantly,” Armstrong said. “She just really left a great mark here.”
Described as a small woman who was “larger than life,” Armstrong said Renda will be greatly missed by the people of Homer.
Before the fatal landing, the couple had been en route to Portland, Ore., to visit family there. They flew out of Anchorage.
Star Pavish
Jul 18, 2009 at 6:56 pm
How saddened I was to hear of the terrible loss of such a talented and inspirational woman…Renda. She played a vital part in the forming of my Daughter Karrie’s musical career(which is still ongoing) as a little girl in the Anchorage Girls Choir in the early 80’s. She brought the best, and expected the best from her young musicians in the choir. I know this is such a heart-wrenching shock to Brie and Shelly, and of course Steve as well. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.
I’m sooo sooo sorry for your loss.
Prayerfully and with love,
Star Pavish