Piper PA-23-250 accident near Tyonek, Alaska, March 14, 2013
On March 14, 2013 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N6008Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Tyonek, Alaska. 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
A total loss of engine power of both engines for reasons that could not be determined because the engines were not made available for examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2013 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tyonek, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6008Y · no longer on the register · serial 27-3190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while in level cruise flight, he attempted to fly through a snow squall, and both engines began to run rough, followed by a total loss of engine power. After both engines lost power, he switched fuel tanks, opened the alternate engine air doors, turned on the auxiliary fuel pumps, and the left engine restarted. While making a turn toward the nearest airport, the left engine failed again, and he selected a clearing in the trees as a forced landing site. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees, and sustained substantial damage to wings and fuselage. The engines were not made available and were not examined, thus no determination was made as to why the engines lost power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 6, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAMR Anchorage AK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PANO Nondalton AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAEN, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.