NTSB posts seven Alaska small-plane accident reports, none fatal

Seven small planes were involved in accidents across Alaska this summer. None were fatal. Three people suffered minor injuries, according to National Transportation Safety Board preliminary filings.

The accidents happened at Nondalton on July 19, Bettles on Aug. 18, Beluga on Aug. 29, Cordova on Aug. 30, Arctic Village on Aug. 31, Copper Center on Sept. 1 and Ninilchik on Sept. 11.

Two people aboard a Cessna 180A (N5399D, ANC26LA094) were hurt at Cordova. One person aboard a Cessna 180J (N9949N, ANC26LA089) was hurt at Bettles. No one on the ground was injured in any of the accidents.

The other planes involved were a Piper PA-18 (ANC26LA093), a Maule M-5-210C (ANC26LA099), a Champion 7DC (ANC26LA095), a Taylorcraft BL-65 (ANC26LA104) and a DeHavilland DHC-2 (ANC26LA072).

No cause has been determined. That will come in later formal reports.

The Federal Aviation Administration's Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative cites a 2020 NTSB finding that Alaska's accident rate from 2008 to 2017 ran 2.35 times the national rate, with fatal accidents at 1.34 times the national rate. National general-aviation fatal accident rates hit a record low in 2024.