Piper PA-14 accident near Chickaloon, Alaska, September 23, 2021
On September 23, 2021 at about 3:26 am local time, a 1948 Piper PA-14, registered N4276H, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Chickaloon, Alaska (King Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2021 · about 3:26 am local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Chickaloon, Alaska · King Ranch · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-14, built 1948 · all PA-14s on the register
- Registration
- N4276H · registry record · serial 1480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight was the first flight after the airplane’s annual inspection. The pilots completed a “thorough” preflight inspection, and an engine run-up revealed no anomalies. Just after the airplane became airborne during takeoff, the engine lost power, regained power momentarily, and then lost power again. Insufficient runway remained on which to land, and the airplane impacted an area of tree- and brush-covered terrain off the end of the runway and nosed over. Examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined based on the available information.
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 takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Inoperative other cases naming the engine
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,991 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 1,899 as pilot in command; 529 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 29, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,600 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2020
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,339.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 2021; 0.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,935 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2A (piston); 2,048 hours total
- Operator: Kingdom Air Corps
The flight
- Departed from: AK59 Sutton AK at 3:25 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PAQ, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 29, 2023. 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 |
| 2 | Conversation Summary -- FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Airplane Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Information Bulletin -- Carburetor Icing | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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 N4276H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4276H on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-14 100 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2A 38 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- King Ranch Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N4276H 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC21LA096.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.