# NTSB ANC25LA060: Piper PA-22-150, N3609Z, Chinitna Bay, AK, July 1, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: June 30, 2025, 16:30 local (Jul 1, 2025, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Chinitna Bay, AK
- Coordinates: 59.879456, -153.05283
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8795&lon=-153.0528&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA060
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200440/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA060

## Preliminary report

On June 30, 2025, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA 22-150 airplane, N3609Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chinitna Bay, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, while en route he heard two or three loud “thuds” followed by reduced rudder control. He said that the airplane began to yaw back and forth and increased when he added engine power. The pilot made the decision to perform a precautionary landing on a remote beach. During the landing the right wheel touched down first, and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot said that he had no rudder control and attempted to correct with left aileron to no avail, subsequently the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, lift struts and rudder. Examination of the airframe is pending the recovery of the wreckage.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3609Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3609Z), registered now, S/N 22-7497, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-7497
- Year built: 1960
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 2025, 50 hours before
- Departed: PSXQ, Soldonta, AK
- Destination: PSXQ, Soldonta, AK
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: PAIL, 57 nm away
- METAR: PAIL 010053Z 13004KT 10SM BKN085 14/10 A2999 RMK NOSPECI

## 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 20250630008529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250630008529A), Jun 30, 2025: Piper PA-22-150, Chinitna Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed soldodtna airport. During cruise flight, pilot heard 2-3 loud bangs while circling Chinitna Bay. After the loud bangs the pilot stated that…

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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