Accident Overview
On June 24, 2025, at approximately 0934 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, registration N3609Q, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. The pilot and a flight instructor aboard incurred serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight.
Flight Details
The airplane departed from Palmer Municipal Airport (PAQ) at about 0900 with an estimated 60 gallons of fuel on board. A witness at the Big Lake Airport (BGQ) observed the aircraft flying over trees at the southern end of the runway. The airplane then executed a sharp left turn toward the runway and impacted the ground just north of the runway.
Fuel Starvation Report
A first responder reported that the pilot stated the airplane had run out of fuel. During the subsequent on-scene examination by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the right wing fuel tank was found to contain approximately 22 gallons of fuel. The left-wing fuel tank connection was damaged from the impact, and no fuel was observed in the left wing.
Fuel Selector Examination
The cockpit fuel selector offered positions OFF, LEFT TANK, and RIGHT TANK. According to the aircraft owner, the pilot would have initiated the flight with the selector in the RIGHT TANK position. Post-accident examination revealed the fuel selector in the OFF position; it was jammed due to impact damage, preventing any movement after the accident.