# NTSB ANC26FA077: Piper PA22, N4535A, Chitina, AK, July 28, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: July 27, 2026, 21:30 local (Jul 28, 2026, 05:30 UTC)
- Place: Chitina, AK
- Coordinates: 61.376606, -142.55669
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3766&lon=-142.5567&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203476
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26FA077
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203476/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26FA077

## Preliminary report

On July 27, 2026, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, a deregistered Piper PA-22-150 airplane, N4535A, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chitina, Alaska. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the pilot and two passengers departed McCarthy Airport, McCarthy, Alaska, to drop off the passengers and supplies at the upper Dan Creek airstrip, located about 12 miles southeast of McCarthy. The upper Dan Creek airstrip is an uncharted private strip that is generally considered one way in and out, surrounded by steeply rising terrain, and go-arounds are not recommended. Multiple witnesses, located on the ground in the vicinity of the airstrip, reported hearing the airplane approaching the southeast runway for landing at a normal approach power setting. The witnesses stated that they then heard the airplane’s engine increase to a high-power setting, then there was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of an impact. The airplane impacted a berm on a rock-covered riverbank in a left-wing-low flight attitude about 740 ft north of the airstrip. The wreckage was oriented on a northwest heading. All four corners of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The outboard portion of the left wing was bent downwards and aft. The fuselage, inboard left wing, and portions of the inboard right wing were consumed by a postimpact fire. During the onsite investigation, no preimpact anomalies were visually observed with the flight control system. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank, and 100LL aviation fuel was present in the left wing. The throttle was found in the idle position and was bent in the direction of the pilot. The propeller blades exhibited rotational signatures including leading edge tip damage and chordwise witness marks, indicative of operation at a low-power setting upon impact. The engine has been recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4535A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (150)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-3844
- Year built: 1956
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jason Lobo
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 15Z, McCarthy, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PVT, Upper Dan Creek Airstrip

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: PAGK, 95 nm away
- METAR: PAGK 280453Z AUTO 01006KT 10SM FEW060 BKN070 14/09 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP086 T01390094 TSNO $

## 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 20260727009669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260727009669A), Jul 27, 2026: Piper PA-22-150, Dan Creek, AK, Substantial damage, 3 fatal. The aircraft was making the approach to land at the Dan Creek Mine strip landing to the east toward rising terrain. Eye witnesses stated they heard the…

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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