Palmer v. Borg-Warner Corp.

OPINION

COMPTON, Justice.

This appeal is from the trial court’s denial of an Alaska Civil Rule 60(b) motion for relief from a Judgment of Dismissal. We reverse and direct the court to reconsider the motion.

1. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On September 8, 1986, a Piper PA-18 aircraft crashed in the Brooks Range, roughly thirty miles south of Umiat. Kenneth Swanson, the pilot, and Merrett P. Palmer, his sole passenger, died in the accident. Palmer’s widow was informed of her husband’s death at least by September 11, 1986. 1 On October 1, 1986, the aircraft’s engine was removed by helicopter…