# NTSB ANC25LA055: Piper PA-32R-300, N3609Q, Big Lake, AK, June 24, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: June 24, 2025, 09:34 local (17:34 UTC)
- Place: Big Lake, AK
- Coordinates: 61.53515, -149.80707
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5352&lon=-149.8071&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200386
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA055
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200386/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA055

## Preliminary report

On June 24, 2025, about 0934 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N3609Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. The pilot and flight instructor were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane departed from the Palmer Municipal Airport (PAQ) at about 0900 on a training flight with about 60 gallons of fuel on board. A witness at the Big Lake Airport (BGQ) reported seeing the airplane over the trees on the south end of the runway. The airplane made a sharp left turn towards the runway impacting the ground just north of the runway. A first responder reported the pilot stated the airplane ran out of fuel. The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigator-in-charge’s on-scene wreckage examination revealed the right wing fuel tank contained about 22 gallons of fuel. The left-wing fuel tank connection was damaged from impact and no fuel was observed in the left wing. The available position of the fuel selector in the cockpit is OFF, LEFT TANK, and RIGHT TANK. According to the owner of the airplane, the pilot would have started the flight in the RIGHT TANK position. The fuel selector was found in the OFF position and was jammed from impact damage, which would not allow movement after the accident. (Figure 1). Figure 1. View of airplane fuel selector.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3609Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3609Q), registered now, S/N 32R-7780319, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780319
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 15920
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Northern Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2024, 60 hours before
- Departed: PAAQ, Palmer, AK
- Airport: BGQ, Big Lake Airport, runway 25, 2,450 × 70 ft, gravel
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: PAWS, 8 nm away
- METAR: PAWS 241728Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN010 OVC070 14/14 A2985 RMK AO2

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250624014889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250624014889A), Jun 24, 2025: Piper PA-32R-300, Big Lake, AK, Substantial damage. On June 24, 2025, about 0934 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake,…

## Other investigations on N3609Q (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 LAX97LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA181), May 12, 1997: Piper PA-32R-300 (N3609Q), Burbank, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: improperly secured upper cowl fasteners by unknown person(s).

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.

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