# Accident 20221229023099A: Piper PA-24-260, Athens, GA, December 29, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 29, 2022, 13:25 local time
- Place: Athens, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9575° N, 83.3181° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9575&lon=-83.3181&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9026P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9026P-2025-10-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-260 (registry code 7102406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,725 total, 1,290 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA097) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221229023099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA23LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA097), Dec 29, 2022: Piper PA24 (N9026P), Athens, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to detect water in the fuel during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N9026P (1)

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

- [Accident 19731018033449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731018033449A), Oct 18, 1973: Piper PA24260 (N9026P), Renton, WA, Substantial damage. Added pwr too late. Over water apch. Gr hit sea wall.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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