Submitted by Fox First at Ten on June 29th
MOOSE CREEK, Idaho - Family of a Coeur d'Alene pilot killed in a Thursday plane crash in Moose Creek say he was "very familiar" with that airstrip.
Family and a close family friend of Jahan Ashtiani say he had flown in and out of Moose Creek airstrip, near Lowell Idaho multiple times already this year. Ed Short, a close family friend spoke with KHQ saying Ashtiani had more than 12 years flying experience and was a very safe pilot.
Short says the family is devastated, "Jahan was a loving husband and he leaves behind 3 children." Ashtiani, a Coeur d'Alene business man was flying his Husky bush plane KHQ is told by Short, which is a plane well equipped to handle airstrips like Moose Creek.
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A 48 Year old Coeur d'Alene man has died after crashing his plane just off of the Moose Creek Airstrip.
48 year old Jahan Ashtiani was killed 4:30 Thursday night when Idaho County Sheriff's deputies say his plane was hit with a gust of wind during take off which flipped the plane over causing it to crash. Another passenger in the plane, 49 year old Anthony Dipaolo of Evergreen Colorado was injured in the crash and flown to Syringa Hospital in Grangevill Idaho. Nurses at the hospital would not release Dipaolo's condition, but Dipaolo did decline to talk with KHQ.
Judy Parrish with the Idaho Aviation Association says the Moose Creek airstrip is a popular destination for fly in fishing and camping trips. Ashtiani and his passenger Anthony Dipaolo had flown from the Coeur d'Alene airport on a fishing trip to Moose Creek. Judy Parrish with I.A.A. says that conditions at Moose creek can be hard to predict for pilots because its one of 75 back country airstrips in Idaho and un expected wind gusts can blow through the canyons.
The FAA is investigating the crash.
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