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20221229023099A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-24-260 · Athens, GA · December 29, 2022

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
December 29, 2022 · 13:25 local
Place
Athens, GA
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N9026P
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA23LA097
Reported as
Piper PA-24-260
Reported engine
Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
2
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
1,725 total1,290 in this make and model7 in the last 90 days
N9026PRegistration cancelled Oct 25, 2025 · Piper PA-24-260S/N 24-4488 · Built 1966Airframe modelPiper PA-24-260Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On 12/29/2022 @1322, N9026P, a Piper PA-24-260 departed Athens, Georgia (ahn) in route to dalton, Georgia (dhn). Aircraft departed rwy 9 northbound on a 360 heading was pulled back power at 3000FT, given clearance to 6000 started to increase power, at which time the PIC felt a jolt in the airframe and the engine started running rough. PIC declared an emergency and made a righthand turn to ahn with a clearance to land on RWY20. Aircraft contacted trees a mile north of RWY20 @ 2220 shoal creek dr. Athens, Georgia. Aircraft came to rest upside down in the side yard of 2220 shoal creek dr. PIC and passenger onboard, PIC and passenger sustained minor injuries. Post- accident evidence identified the electric fuel pump was on, throttle and mixture were full forward, magnetos were in "both", and tank selector was in right auxiliary tank. Mechanic and the previous flight crew stated the aux tanks were at minimums. Post accident examination of the airframe revealed that the electrical fuel pump would not operate and water was found in the fuel system.

As the FAA filed it

ON 12/29/2022 @1322, N9026P, A PIPER PA-24-260 DEPARTED ATHENS, GEORGIA (AHN) IN ROUTE TO DALTON, GEORGIA (DHN). AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RWY 9 NORTHBOUND ON A 360 HEADING WAS PULLED BACK POWER AT 3000FT, GIVEN CLEARANCE TO 6000 STARTED TO INCREASE POWER, AT WHICH TIME THE PIC FELT A JOLT IN THE AIRFRAME AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. PIC DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND MADE A RIGHTHAND TURN TO AHN WITH A CLEARANCE TO LAND ON RWY20. AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREES A MILE NORTH OF RWY20 @ 2220 SHOAL CREEK DR. ATHENS, GEORGIA. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN THE SIDE YARD OF 2220 SHOAL CREEK DR. PIC AND PASSENGER ONBOARD, PIC AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. POST- ACCIDENT EVIDENCE IDENTIFIED THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS ON, THROTTLE AND MIXTURE WERE FULL FORWARD, MAGNETOS WERE IN "BOTH", AND TANK SELECTOR WAS IN RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. MECHANIC AND THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT CREW STATED THE AUX TANKS WERE AT MINIMUMS. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP WOULD NOT OPERATE AND WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA23LA097Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAthens, GAThe pilot’s failure to detect water in the fuel during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power.Dec 29, 2022 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9026P · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19731018033449AFinal Approach · Renton, WAAdded pwr too late. Over water apch. Gr hit sea wall.Oct 18, 1973 · Substantial damage