Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Big Lake, Alaska, June 24, 2025
On June 24, 2025 at about 5:34 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA-32R-300, registered N3609Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Big Lake, Alaska (Big Lake Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2025 · about 5:34 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Big Lake, Alaska · Big Lake Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300, built 1977 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N3609Q · registry record · serial 32R-7780319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 24, 2025, about 0934 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N3609Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. The pilot and flight instructor were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane departed from the Palmer Municipal Airport (PAQ) at about 0900 on a training flight with about 60 gallons of fuel on board. A witness at the Big Lake Airport (BGQ) reported seeing the airplane over the trees on the south end of the runway. The airplane made a sharp left turn towards the runway impacting the ground just north of the runway. A first responder reported the pilot stated the airplane ran out of fuel. The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigator-in-charge’s on-scene wreckage examination revealed the right wing fuel tank contained about 22 gallons of fuel. The left-wing fuel tank connection was damaged from impact and no fuel was observed in the left wing. The available position of the fuel selector in the cockpit is OFF, LEFT TANK, and RIGHT TANK. According to the owner of the airplane, the pilot would have started the flight in the RIGHT TANK position. The fuel selector was found in the OFF position and was jammed from impact damage, which would not allow movement after the accident. (Figure 1). Figure 1. View of airplane fuel selector.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,920 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 2024; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: PAAQ Palmer AK at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,450 ft by 70 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:28 am from PAWS, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAWS 241728Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN010 OVC070 14/14 A2985 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3609Q 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
- N3609Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 3,916 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Big Lake Airport · nearest airport
- Warren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N3609Q 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/ANC25LA055.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.