Full Breakdown
Four Killed When Piper PA-24 Crashes Into Seldovia Slough
8/28/2026, 11:26:17 AM
Core Event
On August 26, 2026, a Piper PA-24 bound for Seldovia Airport from Merrill Field in Anchorage crashed into the Seldovia Slough, a shallow waterway adjacent to the town’s runway. The aircraft sank in about 13–17 feet of water. Alaska State Troopers, assisted by wildlife troopers and a DPS helicopter, recovered the four adult occupants at about 6:30 p.m. after the tide receded. All four bodies were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened an investigation; a cause has not yet been determined.
Background & Context
Remote Alaskan communities rely on small aircraft for transport, medical evacuation, and essential services. The state’s rugged terrain and limited road network make aviation a lifeline, but also expose pilots to rapidly changing weather, tidal constraints, and limited navigation aids. The Seldovia crash followed a fatal accident on August 20, 2026, when a chartered Cessna 441 crashed near the Cape New Hadem Long Range Radar Site, killing eight people.
Key Figures & Groups
- Eric Middlebrook, 68 – Pilot, Anchorage resident.
- Ronald Schmidt, 65 – Passenger, California resident.
- Lance Schmidt, 20 – Passenger, California resident.
- Daniel Simons, 82 – Passenger, California resident.
- Clint Johnson – Alaska region chief, NTSB.
- Lindsay Burnett – Witness who heard the aircraft take off and crash.
- S. Sen. Dan Sullivan – Alaska senator commenting on aviation safety.
Timeline
- 1:18 p.m., August 26 – Troopers receive the crash report.
- ~1:15 p.m. – Aircraft impacts water.
- 4:30 p.m. – Troopers arrive on scene.
- 6:30 p.m. – Bodies recovered after tide falls.
- Following day – NTSB team arrives to begin documentation.
Data & Statistics
- Aircraft model: Piper PA-24-260 (single-engine, four-seat).
- Water depth at impact: 13–17 feet (?4.0–5.2 m).
- Distance from Anchorage to Seldovia: ~135 miles (?220 km).
- Victims: 4 adults, all deceased.
Why It Matters
The accident highlights the vulnerability of Alaska’s aviation network, where weather, terrain, and tidal cycles can impede rescue and recovery. The back-to-back fatalities have prompted renewed calls from state officials for improved safety infrastructure and better weather-information services for remote flights.
Official Statements & Responses
Investigators will examine the pilot’s actions, aircraft condition, and environmental factors. The Alaska Department of Public Safety confirmed the victims’ identities after next-of-kin notification and reiterated that the NTSB is leading the investigation.
On-the-Ground Reports
Witness Lindsay Burnett said, “We heard it happen. We heard the plane taking off and heard it crash.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Go-around vs. straight-ahead: Some officials suggest the plane may have attempted a go-around before striking trees and entering the slough; others say it was simply taking off to the south.
- Cause: No definitive cause has been released; investigators have not ruled out pilot decision-making, mechanical failure, or weather.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What we’re hearing now, and we’re not drawing any conclusions, that there may have been an attempted go-around.” — Clint Johnson, NTSB Alaska region chief.
- “He was a fixture in the community and he was a respected guy. He was known all over the [Yukon–Kuskokwim] Delta. It’s a tragic loss,” — Mark Springer, former Bethel council member.
- “Julie and I are praying for the families and loved ones of those who were killed today in a plane crash near Seldovia. These tragedies are heartbreaking and unacceptable, which is why aviation safety and infrastructure in Alaska continue to be a top focus of mine,” — S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.
