Piper PA-28-180 accident near Chicken, Alaska, August 24, 2025
On August 24, 2025 at about 4:20 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA-28-180, registered N7771N, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Chicken, Alaska (Chicken airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2025 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chicken, Alaska · Chicken · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1969 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7771N · registry record · serial 28-5218
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 24, 2025, about 0820 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N7771N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chicken, Alaska. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the second passenger was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, during climb-out following a low pass to inspect the gravel runway at Chicken Airport, the engine experienced a partial loss of power accompanied by a vibration. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain approximately half a mile northwest of the airfield, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The wreckage will be recovered to a secure facility, and a detailed NTSB examination is pending.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,375.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 6K8 Tok Junction AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: CKX Chicken AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from PAEG, 47 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAEG 241553Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM SCT070 OVC085 14/10 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP121 T01390100 TSNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.
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.