Piper PA 22 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, June 1, 2015
On June 1, 2015 at about 4:00 am local time, a 1955 Piper PA 22, registered N2828P, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Skwentna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the airplane's operating limitations by rapidly opening the throttle, which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to maneuver the airplane at low altitude even though he was not taking off or landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2015 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 22, built 1955 · all PA 22s on the register
- Registration
- N2828P · registry record · serial 22-3121
- 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 he was maneuvering the airplane at low altitude to practice approaches at an unimproved airstrip. After passing over some trees in a northerly direction, the airplane began a rapid descent. The pilot applied full power in an effort to correct for the descent, but the engine power decreased. When the airplane was about 25 ft above ground level, the left wing struck a tree, and the airplane then impacted terrain in a slight left bank. The airplane slid along the ground for about 18 ft before impacting a berm, which caused the airplane to become airborne and rotate counterclockwise 180 degrees before coming to rest in a near-level pitch attitude. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive (AD) applicable to the airplane required that a placard with the following operating limitation be placed near the throttle: "DO NOT OPEN THROTTLE RAPIDLY – (IDLE TO FULL THROTTLE, 2 SECONDS MINIMUM.)" The AD was issued to prevent power interruption and acceleration hangup that could result from abrupt throttle movement. The airplane was in compliance with the AD. The pilot stated that, when he opened the throttle, he did so rapidly, faster than the 2-second requirement. It is likely that the pilot's rapid opening of the throttle interrupted the fuel supply to the engine, which resulted in a loss of engine 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 maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,082 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,801 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKW Skwentna AK
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from PASW, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
Other NTSB records under N2828P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC15LA034.