PILOT IN FATAL CRASH HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA A preliminary report on a fatal Alaska commercial float plane crash says the pilot had just five hours of float plane experience when he began company orientation in April.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Friday released the preliminary report on the May 20 crash of a Taquan Air flight in the harbour of the village of Metlakatla in southeast Alaska.

The crash killed 51-yearold Ron Rash of Harrisburg, Penn., the pilot, and 32-yearold Sarah Luna, the only passenger.

It was the second fatal crash for the Ketchikan-based company in less than a week.

The NTSB preliminary report cites no cause for the crash.