Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-140 near Indian Trail, NC — 2026-03-08

Investigation ongoingERA26LA144
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Date
2026-03-08
Location
Indian Trail, NC, USA
Airport
28A
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-140
Registration
N98360
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On March 8, 2026, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N98360, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Indian Trail, North Carolina. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane had a total of 24 gallons of fuel onboard. After completing the preflight inspection, which included checking that fuel samples taken from the tank drains were absent of contaminants, they taxied to the runway for departure. The before takeoff checks were completed with no anomalies noted. The pilot conducted a short field takeoff and established an initial climb. About 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine “cut out”. The pilot reported multiple engine power fluctuations and was unable to maintain lift. He attempted a forced landing in a field, but the airplane’s left wing struck a tree about 30 ft agl, which separated the wing from the fuselage, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector found that the fuel selector was selected to the right wing fuel tank, which contained several gallons of fuel. A fuel sample was taken from the fuel tank drain and was absent of water or debris. The engine did not exhibit any external signatures of a catastrophic engine failure and contained 5 quarts of oil. According to the operator of the airplane, the engine had accumulated about 2,200 hours since it was overhauled in 2016. The most recent annual inspection of the airframe and engine was completed on December 23, 2025, and no major engine repairs were performed thereafter. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (partial) · Initial climb
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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