Piper PA-22 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, April 24, 2007
On April 24, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3579A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska (Soldotna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control, an encounter with a muddy berm, and a nose over. A factor in the accident was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Soldotna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3579A · registry record · serial 22-1854
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane while practicing touch-and-go landings, which required a correction for a left crosswind, during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. During touchdown, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airplane to veer to the right, and he applied takeoff power in an attempt to abort the landing. The pilot said that after he applied takeoff power, the veer worsened, and he reduced power in an attempt to stop the airplane. The airplane subsequently went off the right side of the runway, encountered a muddy berm, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wing lift struts and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 357 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,263 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2006; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Soldotna AK at 12:20 pm
- Destination: SXQ Soldotna AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,000 ft by 132 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.