Amateur-built KING N62TK accident near Palmer, Alaska

Preliminary information

On May 5, 2026, about 1950 Alaska daylight time (AKDT), an experimental amateur-built King airplane, N62TK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Figure 1 Diagram of accident site

Witnesses positioned near the east end of Picnic Strip, adjacent to Lake George and the Knik Glacier, reported that the airplane departed to the east and flew past them at low altitude. As it climbed over an area of rising terrain in a steep left bank, it encountered a gusting crosswind from the southeast off the glacier. The right wing lifted, the bank angle increased sharply, and the airplane descended nose-down before impacting terrain. Witnesses indicated the engine appeared to be operating at full power until impact.

Upon impact, the engine separated from the airframe, and a post-impact fire consumed most of the cockpit, fuselage, and left wing.

Although surface winds were reported as calm, witnesses estimated gusts of approximately 20 knots above the glacial moraine at the east end of the strip.

Figure 2 Image of accident site (Courtesy of Recovery Operation)

Figure 3 Overhead image of accident site (Courtesy of Alaska State Troopers)

The wreckage has been recovered, and an examination is pending.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for ANC26LA037 for the full record.