Pilot Debrief

PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA46R-350T near Folkston, GA — 2025-04-10

Final reportERA25LA172
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Date
2025-04-10
Location
Folkston, GA, USA
Airport
3J6
Aircraft
PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA46R-350T
Registration
N179ST
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around.

NTSB narrative

At the conclusion of the instrument flight rules flight, the pilot approached the 2,500-ft-long by 50-ft-wide runway at the destination airport. The pilot was unable to recall any of the events that transpired after the landing flare, but the front seat passenger described that the airplane’s nose pitched up as the airplane descended below the tops of the trees that surrounded the airport. The pilot then initiated a go-around, but the airplane did not climb as expected and drifted left towards the trees. The left wing then dropped before the airplane struck the ground, resulting in a postimpact fire. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported, and a postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed, that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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