# Accident 20230701008009A: Piper PA-22, Talkeetna, AK, July 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2023, 18:15 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: Talkeetna
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.2920° N, 150.1125° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2920&lon=-150.1125&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3321B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3321B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22 (registry code 7102202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 258 total, 230 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230701008009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT AND TWO FRIENDS WERE RETURNING TO CHRISTIANSEN LAKE FROM A TRIP OUT OF CHELATNA LAKE. THE PILOT STATED THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO STAY BELOW THE TALKEETNA TRAFFIC PATTERN THREE MILES TO THE NORTH FOR THE APPROACH. THE PILOT WAS MANUEVERING THE AIRCRAFT AT 50 FEET OVER THE SUSTINA RIVER WHEN EXECUTING A TURN FOR AN APPROACH TO CHRISTIANSEN LAKE AND LOST ELEVATOR AUTHORITY DURING A TRANSITION TO A TAILWIND COMPONENT FROM A HEADWIND. ADDITIONAL POWER WAS ADDED JUST BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A SAND BAR IN THE RIVER. AIRCRAFT FLOATS, PROPELLER, AND FUSELAGE ALL RECEIVED DAMAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC23LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA046), Jul 2, 2023: Piper PA-22 (N3321B), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering low-level, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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