Plane Crash at Anchorage's Merrill Field Injures One

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A small plane crashed at Merrill Field in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday evening, leaving one person injured. The Piper PA 22 aircraft was taking off from Runway 3-4 when the pilot reported a loss of engine power, leading to a right descending turn and the plane crashing onto another taxiway. The Anchorage Fire Department responded and transported one person to the hospital, while the other person on board was uninjured. The NTSB has launched an investigation into the incident.

Why it matters

Plane crashes at small regional airports can raise concerns about aviation safety and the maintenance of private aircraft. The NTSB will work to determine the cause of the engine failure in order to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety of pilots and passengers using Merrill Field.

The details

According to NTSB Alaska Region Chief Clint Johnson, the Piper PA 22 was taking off from Runway 3-4 at Merrill Field when the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot then made a right descending turn and the plane crashed onto another taxiway. The Anchorage Fire Department responded to the scene and transported one person to the hospital with injuries, while the other person on board was unharmed.

• The incident occurred around 7 PM on Saturday, February 1, 2026.
• An NTSB investigator was on site that same evening to secure the plane and begin the investigation.

What’s next

The NTSB investigation will continue early this week to determine the cause of the engine failure that led to the crash.