Event ANC24LA083

2024-08-29 Aleknagik, Alaska, United States None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N4NW

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-22-160

Year of manufacture

1960 · 64 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19600527

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A4A930

Registrant of record

ZINK MATTHEW A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N4NW Piper PA22 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, while conducting a low altitude pass over an off-airport site with a 5 to 7 mph tailwind in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the landing gear contacted a patch of alder brush. The airplane subsequently came to rest in an area of tall brush, both wings, lift struts and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Climb rate-Not attained/maintained
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ANC24LA083.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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