20260131001129A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-22-150 · Anchorage, AK · January 31, 2026

Date: January 31, 2026 · 19:20 local
Place: Anchorage, AK
Airport: Merrill Field
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3263Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC26LA013
Reported as: Piper PA-22-150
Reported engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 174 total119 in this make and model27 in the last 90 days

N3263ZRegistered now · Piper PA-22-150S/N 227212 · Built 1960 Airframe modelPiper PA-22-150 Engine modelLycoming O-320-A2BReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Shortly after departure from runway 34 at Merrill Field subject aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. There was a momentary return of partial power followed by a total loss of power. Pilot glided to a taxiway and tried to reduce speed before touchdown. Pilot reported using carb heat on runup but not during taxi.

As the FAA filed it

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY 34 AT MERRILL FIELD SUBJECT AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THERE WAS A MOMENTARY RETURN OF PARTIAL POWER FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. PILOT GLIDED TO A TAXIWAY AND TRIED TO REDUCE SPEED BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. PILOT REPORTED USING CARB HEAT ON RUNUP BUT NOT DURING TAXI.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC26LA013Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportAnchorage, AKOn January 31, 2026, about 1921 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-22-150 airplane, N3263Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot was uninjured, and the passenger was transported to the hospital with…Feb 1, 2026 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3263Z · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19940315005449AGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Benton, ILBlown over by wind gust back taxiing after landing. Too much wind for type.Mar 15, 1994 · Substantial damage