Piper PA22 accident near Chitina, Alaska, July 28, 2026
On July 28, 2026 at about 5:30 am local time, a 1956 Piper PA22, registered N4535A, was destroyed in an accident during landing near Chitina, Alaska (Upper Dan Creek Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- July 28, 2026 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Chitina, Alaska · Upper Dan Creek Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22 150, built 1956 · all PA22s on the register
- Registration
- N4535A · no longer on the register · serial 22-3844
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 27, 2026, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, a deregistered Piper PA-22-150 airplane, N4535A, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chitina, Alaska. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the pilot and two passengers departed McCarthy Airport, McCarthy, Alaska, to drop off the passengers and supplies at the upper Dan Creek airstrip, located about 12 miles southeast of McCarthy. The upper Dan Creek airstrip is an uncharted private strip that is generally considered one way in and out, surrounded by steeply rising terrain, and go-arounds are not recommended. Multiple witnesses, located on the ground in the vicinity of the airstrip, reported hearing the airplane approaching the southeast runway for landing at a normal approach power setting. The witnesses stated that they then heard the airplane’s engine increase to a high-power setting, then there was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of an impact. The airplane impacted a berm on a rock-covered riverbank in a left-wing-low flight attitude about 740 ft north of the airstrip. The wreckage was oriented on a northwest heading. All four corners of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The outboard portion of the left wing was bent downwards and aft. The fuselage, inboard left wing, and portions of the inboard right wing were consumed by a postimpact fire. During the onsite investigation, no preimpact anomalies were visually observed with the flight control system. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank, and 100LL aviation fuel was present in the left wing. The throttle was found in the idle position and was bent in the direction of the pilot. The propeller blades exhibited rotational signatures including leading edge tip damage and chordwise witness marks, indicative of operation at a low-power setting upon impact. The engine has been recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during landing defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 15Z Mccarthy AK at 5:20 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAGK, 95 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAGK 280453Z AUTO 01006KT 10SM FEW060 BKN070 14/09 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP086 T01390094 TSNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.