FirstAlerts

Aircraft identified in fatal McCarthy plane crash as Piper PA-22-150

The NTSB has identified the aircraft involved in the July 27 crash near McCarthy, Alaska, as a Piper PA-22-150; the cause remains under investigation.

2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 25, 2026, 9:56 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 25, 2026, 10:22 p.m. ET
Developing · not yet checked for updates

This is a developing story. Details reported early are provisional and are frequently revised. Where sources disagree, both readings are given.

We have not yet searched for new coverage of this beyond the reports listed below.

The aircraft involved in the fatal crash near , Alaska, on July 27 has been identified as a , according to the National Transportation Safety Board's accident record. The crash occurred and claimed lives, as reported by Alaska's News Source. The NTSB's preliminary report did not identify the cause of the crash, and the investigation remains open. The aircraft's registration is , according to the NTSB accident record. FAA registry records list the registered owner as Adams John W; the owner of record is not necessarily the operator, the pilot, or otherwise connected to the flight. It has not been confirmed that the owner is the same person as a John W. Adams listed in the same area in other FAA records. The has been involved in 66 other cases in the NTSB database since 2008, seven of which involved a fatality; this record says nothing about the cause of this accident.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 25, 2026, 9:56 p.m. ETFirst report

    Preliminary Report Released in Fatal McCarthy Plane Crash

    Three people were killed when a Piper PA-22-150 crashed while landing near McCarthy, Alaska, on July 27, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released by alaskasnewssource.com. The crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. local time. The preliminary report did not identify the cause of the crash, and the investigation remains open.

    The aircraft, registered as N4535A, is a 1956 Piper PA-22-150, according to aircraft registry records. The registered owner of record is Adams John W; the owner of record is not necessarily the operator, the pilot, or otherwise connected to the flight. It has not been confirmed that the owner is the same person as individuals of the same name listed in the same area in FAA records.

    The NTSB has opened a case (ANC26FA077) for the accident. According to the NTSB database, there have been 66 other cases involving Piper PA-22-150 aircraft since 2008, of which 7 involved a fatality; this record says nothing about the cause of this accident.

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Reference data

From aircraft and geographic registries, not from the news sources. Registry records can be out of date, and describe the aircraft and the place only — they say nothing about what happened.

Registration
N4535A
Type
Piper PA-22-150
Engines
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
Built
1956-01-01 (70 years old)
Registered owner
Adams John WThe owner of record is not necessarily the operator, the pilot, or otherwise connected to the flight.
Terrain elevation
2,972 ft
Nearest aerodrome
5.4 miles ENE of Mc Carthy Airport (PAMX/MXY)

Sources

Revision history

  1. Version 126 Aug 2026, 02:22current

    First published.

  2. Version 126 Aug 2026, 01:56current

    First published.

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