Piper PA-31-310 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 12, 2026
On January 12, 2026 at about 1:03 am local time, a 1969 Piper PA-31-310, registered N669CW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Fld airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 12, 2026 · about 1:03 am local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Fld · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-310, built 1969 · all PA-31-310s on the register
- Registration
- N669CW · registry record · serial 31-514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,920 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 10, 2026; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: PANC Anchorage AK
- Destination: PAMR Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07/2, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 12°F (-11°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.23 inHg
- Observation at 4:04 pm from AMR, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAMR 120104Z 01006KT 2SM BR BKN007 OVC024 M11/M13 A2923 RMK AO2 SNE04 P0000 T11111128
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N669CW on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-31 Navajo and Chieftain 934 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Merrill Field · nearest airport
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International · departed from
- Merrill Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 826 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC26LA009.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.