One of the best-known and most-respected ultralight pilots, instructors and sport aviation boosters died Thursday during a training accident in Alaska. Mike Jacober and his student Robert Pelkey were killed when the ultralight trike trainer they were flying crashed about two miles from the Birchwood, Alaska, airport. Cause of the crash is unknown. The smoking wreckage of the trike was discovered by fellow instructor Rick Huggett. Jacober was owner of Arctic Sparrow Aircraft Inc and was recognized by many as one of the country’s top ultralight pilots. Jacober was an EAA technical counselor and flight advisor. He first started flying hang gliders in the early 1970s in California and, after moving to Alaska in 1975, put landing gear on a powered hang glider and helped start the ultralight evolution. In 1993 he rode thermals to an overflight of Mount McKinley, which, at 20,320 feet, is North America’s tallest mountain. Jacober left a wife and stepson.
Well-Respected Ultralight Pilot Killed
Key Takeaways:
- Renowned ultralight pilot and instructor Mike Jacober and his student Robert Pelkey died in a training accident involving an ultralight trike near Birchwood, Alaska.
- Jacober was a highly respected figure in sport aviation, recognized as one of the country's top ultralight pilots, an EAA technical counselor, and a flight advisor.
- He was a pioneer in ultralight evolution, starting with hang gliders in the 1970s, and famously overflew Mount McKinley at 20,320 feet in 1993.
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