# NTSB ANC26LA013: Piper PA-22-150, N3263Z, Anchorage, AK, February 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: January 31, 2026, 19:21 local (Feb 1, 2026, 04:21 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.216389, -149.84722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2164&lon=-149.8472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202367 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA013 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202367/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA013 ## Preliminary report On 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 potentially serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, earlier in the evening, he and the passenger departed Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA), Kenai, for a personal flight to Merrill Field Airport (MRI), Anchorage, with about 36 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel onboard. The flight to Anchorage was uneventful. After parking in the transient area, the pilot and passenger left for dinner and later returned to the airplane. The pilot conducted an engine run-up at transient parking and then taxied to Runway 34, where he was instructed to expect a Campbell Departure to the south. Shortly after takeoff from Runway 34, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in a right-banking turn back toward the runway environment, and the airplane impacted the airport ramp before coming to rest on Taxiway Alpha, about 950 ft northeast of the departure end of Runway 34. Figure 1 Diagram of accident site with flightpath, airport, and weather data The outboard right wing, beyond the lift strut, and right aileron exhibited spanwise deformation consistent with impact damage. The right main gear collapsed and folded backwards against the fuselage. The nose gear collapsed and folded laterally towards the left side of the fuselage. One propeller blade was curled backwards and had left witness marks on the left side of the cowling. Figure 2 Accident airplane at accident site (NTSB Photo) A security camera at the airport captured video and audio of the airplane’s taxi and takeoff roll. Shortly after the airplane exited the camera frame, the engine can be heard sputtering, followed by a loss of power. Engine power is then momentarily restored before the airplane impacts the ramp area. An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Alaska Regional Office responded to the accident site and documented the airplane wreckage. During the on-scene examination, the investigator recovered a data card containing flightpath and engine monitoring data. The wreckage will be 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. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3263Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3263Z), registered now, S/N 227212, 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 O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 227212 - Year built: 1960 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Destination: ENA, Kenai, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 34 - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: PAMR - METAR: METAR PAMR 010353Z COR 04003KT 10SM SCT100 M03/M06 A2973 RMK AO2 SLP070 T10281056 ## 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 20260131001129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260131001129A), Jan 31, 2026: Piper PA-22-150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. 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… ## Other investigations on N3263Z (2) 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 CHI94LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA109), Mar 15, 1994: Piper PA-22-150 (N3263Z), Benton, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TAILWIND. - [NTSB UNK64X0927](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0927), Mar 15, 1964: Piper PA22 (N3263Z), Tampa, IA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.