# NTSB ANC26LA037: Tundrair King, N62TK, Palmer, AK, May 6, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 5, 2026, 19:50 local (May 6, 2026, 03:50 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.403378, -148.59547 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4034&lon=-148.5955&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202942
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA037
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202942/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA037

## Preliminary report

On May 5, 2026, about 1950 Alaska daylight time (AKDT), an experimental Tundrair King airplane, N62TK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Figure 1 Diagram of accident site Witnesses positioned near the east end of Picnic Strip, adjacent to Lake George and the Knik Glacier, reported that the airplane departed to the east and flew past them at low altitude. As it climbed over an area of rising terrain in a steep left bank, it encountered a gusting crosswind from the southeast off the glacier. The right wing lifted, the bank angle increased sharply, and the airplane descended nose-down before impacting terrain. Witnesses indicated the engine appeared to be operating at full power until impact. Upon impact, the engine separated from the airframe, and a post-impact fire consumed most of the cockpit, fuselage, and left wing. Although surface winds were reported as calm, witnesses estimated gusts of approximately 20 knots above the glacial moraine at the east end of the strip. Figure 2 Image of accident site (Courtesy of Recovery Operation) Figure 3 Overhead image of accident site (Courtesy of Alaska State Troopers) The wreckage has been recovered, and an examination is pending.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Kucera Thomas TUNDRAIR KING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=9570434), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62TK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62TK), registered now, S/N TK-01 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TUNDRAIR KING
- Registry model: [Kucera Thomas TUNDRAIR KING](https://openairdocs.org/model/kucera-thomas-tundrair-king) (registry code 9570434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: TK-01
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: PAAQ, 18 nm away
- METAR: PAAQ 060253Z AUTO 14016G22KT 10SM OVC110 11/M01 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP056 T01061006 52002 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 20260505004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260505004929A), May 5, 2026: Kucera Thomas TUNDRAIR KING, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed Picnic Strip, heading east (heading 110) and reached approximately 50 feet AGL before initiating a 30-degree left bank to heading 060 . A…

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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