SELDOVIA, ALASKA — A Piper PA-24 crashed into shallow waters next to Seldovia, Alaska, on August 26, 2026. The aircraft was traveling from Anchorage to Seldovia when the incident occurred.

The plane submerged in approximately 15 feet (4.6 meters) of water in the Seldovia Slough near the shore. Troopers waited for the tide to recede before accessing the aircraft to conduct recovery operations.

Recovery teams retrieved the bodies of four adults from the plane. The victims' remains are being sent to the medical examiner’s office for identification and examination.

Authorities stated that the identities of the victims will not be released until next of kin are notified. The cause of the crash is not immediately clear pending further investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash to determine the sequence of events. Clint Johnson serves as the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief and oversees regional investigative efforts.

This incident follows another aviation disaster less than a week prior, when a plane crashed at a remote military site in western Alaska, killing all eight people on board. Authorities stated the previous aircraft was making its second runway approach in heavy fog and the pilots could not see the gravel airstrip.

Why It Matters

The crash marks the second fatal aviation accident in Alaska within a single week. The National Transportation Safety Board, the United States government investigative agency for civil transportation accidents, has launched an inquiry to establish the cause of the Seldovia incident.

Senator Sullivan’s commitment to receiving briefings from federal agencies reflects political attention focused on aviation infrastructure following these consecutive losses. The recovery of four adults from the shallow waters of the Seldovia Slough concludes the immediate emergency response, while the investigation continues.

Timeline

On May 7, 2020, the Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska State Waters and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings was issued. On August 26, 2026, a Piper PA-24 crashed into shallow waters next to Seldovia, Alaska, while traveling from Anchorage to Seldovia.

Also on August 26, 2026, the aircraft submerged in approximately 15 feet (4.6 meters) of water in the Seldovia Slough near the shore. Troopers waited for the tide to recede before accessing the aircraft and subsequently recovered the bodies of four adults from the plane. On the same date, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan stated he will receive a briefing from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the crash. "These tragedies are heartbreaking and unacceptable, which is why aviation safety and infrastructure in Alaska continue to be a top focus of mine," Sullivan said in a Facebook post.

What's New

Additional reporting confirms that Anchorage is consolidated city-borough and largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska. It also establishes that the National Transportation Safety Board is United States government investigative agency for civil transportation accidents.