Story perspectives

NTSB Confirms Piper Crash Killed Four Near Seldovia

8/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

NTSB Alaska regional chief Clint Johnson confirmed a Piper PA-24-260 crashed near Seldovia, killing four.
The aircraft left Anchorage’s Merrill Field at about 1:15 p.m.
State troopers were alerted at 1:18 p.m.
Bodies were recovered after the tide fell at 6:30 p.m., with the plane in about 15 feet of water.
Sen. Dan Sullivan will be briefed by the FAA and NTSB about crash, which follows August 20 Cessna accident killing eight.

History

Historical Context

On January 31 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 plunged into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 88 aboard and prompting sweeping aviation safety reforms. The NTSB, together with the FAA, identified a faulty jackscrew that had endured over 30,000 flight cycles, costing $1.2 billion in corrective measures. Today, the NTSB’s Alaska regional chief Clint Johnson is investigating a Piper PA-24-260 crash near Seldovia, with Senator Dan Sullivan awaiting FAA briefings after a similar August 20 Cessna disaster. These recurring Alaskan incidents underscore persistent maintenance challenges, urging stricter oversight and accelerated fleet modernization to prevent future loss of life.

1 of 2

Story summary

NTSB Alaska regional chief Clint Johnson confirmed a Piper PA-24-260 crashed near Seldovia, killing four.
The aircraft left Anchorage’s Merrill Field at about 1:15 p.m.
State troopers were alerted at 1:18 p.m.
Bodies were recovered after the tide fell at 6:30 p.m., with the plane in about 15 feet of water.
Sen. Dan Sullivan will be briefed by the FAA and NTSB about crash, which follows August 20 Cessna accident killing eight.

1 / 2