20260618006389A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-20 · Cordova, AK · June 18, 2026

Date: June 18, 2026 · 12:00 local
Place: Cordova, AK
Airport: Cordova, Ak
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7635K
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC26FA057
Reported as: Piper PA-20
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,300 total

N7635KRegistered now · Piper PA-20S/N 20-454 · Built 1950 Airframe modelPiper PA-20 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

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.

A Piper PA-20, flown by a commercial pilot with an instrument rating, departed under VFR conditions but encountered low ceilings, rain, fog and obscured mountainous terrain. The pilot continued into IMC towards his destination and the aircraft impacted terrain 1169 feet MSL on a steep mountainous slope about 40 miles se from the Cordova, Ak Airport (pacv). At the time of the accident the commercial pilots certificate was suspended.

As the FAA filed it

A PIPER PA-20, FLOWN BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING, DEPARTED UNDER VFR CONDITIONS BUT ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS, RAIN, FOG AND OBSCURED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PILOT CONTINUED INTO IMC TOWARDS HIS DESTINATION AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN 1169 FEET MSL ON A STEEP MOUNTAINOUS SLOPE ABOUT 40 MILES SE FROM THE CORDOVA, AK AIRPORT (PACV). AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE COMMERCIAL PILOTS CERTIFICATE WAS SUSPENDED.

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 ANC26FA057Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportCordova, AKOn June 18, 2026, at approximately 1200, an experimental Piper PA-20 airplane, N7635K, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident about 44 miles southeast of Cordova, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code…Jun 18, 2026 · Destroyed

Other reports on N7635K · 2

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

Accident 20080802848599ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Grass Valley, CA(-23) After landing, the pilot attempted to slow down by using the brakes. His right foot slid off the right brake causing differential braking. The aircraft went to the left, exiting the runway. During an attempt to regain aircraft control, the tail of the…Aug 2, 2008 · Substantial damage Accident 19770501016059ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Ismay, MTLanding in alfalfa fld,swerved left,nosed over.May 1, 1977 · Substantial damage