Piper PA-22 N3321B

Summary

On 2 July 2023 at about 02:12 local time, a Piper PA-22 registered N3321B was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 July 2023 at 02:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.2920, -150.1125

Aircraft

Piper PA-22

Registration

N3321B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1954

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Talkeenta → Cheltna Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC23LA046

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering low-level, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While maneuvering a float-equipped airplane low-level over a river, the pilot turned the airplane downwind and it encountered a downdraft. The airplane subsequently lost altitude and the pilot added power to climb; however, the airplane’s float impacted a gravel bar adjacent to the river. The airplane came to rest in an area of gravel-covered terrain, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.