Piper PA-22-160 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, September 17, 2012
On September 17, 2012 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N8433D, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Talkeetna, Alaska. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2012 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8433D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5688
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that he assumed control of the airplane shortly after takeoff to demonstrate a low-altitude maneuver to the private pilot. He said that during a left turn, the nose started to drop, the airplane descended, and it sounded like the speed was increasing. The flight instructor added power, leveled the airplane’s wings, and released the back pressure on the control yoke trying to break any stall, but the airplane continued to descend. As the airplane approached the ground, the instructor increased back pressure on the control yoke, but there was no response. The airplane impacted the ground. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 953 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 631 as pilot in command; 33 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 2, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 24 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,444 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alaska Floats & Skis INC
The flight
- Departed from: PATK Talkeetna AK at 3:00 pm
- Destination: PATK Talkeetna AK
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on October 27, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N8433D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.