# Accident 20260624010609A: Piper PA-22-150, Morganton, NC, June 24, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 24, 2026, 11:21 local time
- Place: Morganton, NC
- Airport: Foothills Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8236° N, 81.6106° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8236&lon=-81.6106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4552A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4552A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-150 (registry code 7102210, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,322 total, 156 in this make and model, 128 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA247) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260624010609A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 24, 2026, A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED AVERY COUNTY AIRPORT IN AIRCRAFT N4552A. FOLLOWING STANDARD PRE-FLIGHT PREPARATIONS, THE CREW FLEW TO FOOTHILLS REGIONAL AIRPORT AND EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON RUNWAY 21.

AFTER LANDING, THE CREW TAXIED TO THE HOLD SHORT LINE TO BRIEF A HIGH-SPEED CENTERLINE TRACKING MANEUVER DESIGNED TO PRACTICE RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND RUDDER MANAGEMENT. THE EXERCISE REQUIRED FULL-POWER ACCELERATION UNTIL THE TAIL LIFTED, FOLLOWED BY A THROTTLE REDUCTION TO MAINTAIN THE CENTERLINE AT 45 TO 55 MPH. DURING THE MANEUVER, BOTH PILOTS HELD THE YOKE FULL FORWARD. AS THE TAIL ROSE, THE STUDENT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER BUT DID NOT RELAX THE INPUT. THE INSTRUCTOR COMMANDED CORRECTIONS AND APPLIED MAXIMUM FORCE TO THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL BUT WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME THE STUDENT'S LOCKED RIGHT LEG. CONSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A SOIL RAMP AT 40 TO 45 MPH, BECAME AIRBORNE, AND CRASHED INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. BOTH PILOTS EVACUATED SAFELY WITH NO REPORTED INJURIES.

FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOTS PROVIDED CONFLICTING PERSPECTIVES ON THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE STUDENT REVERTED TO A "DRIVING MODE" INSTINCT, MECHANICALLY LOCKING HIS LEG ON THE RIGHT PEDAL AKIN TO AN AUTOMOTIVE PANIC STOP. CONTRARY TO THE PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED MANUEVER, THE STUDENT ASSERTED THAT THE INSTRUCTOR'S REQUIREMENT TO HOLD THE YOKE FULL FORWARD DURING THE MANEUVER CONFLICTED WITH HIS PRIOR TRAINING TO KEEP THE STICK BACK.

MINOR INJURY REPORTED FOR THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

SECOND PILOT REGULATORY CHECK RIDE DATE UNKNOWN.

ASSOCIATED TASK NUMBER IN SAS IS T-EA68-FY26-1804.

## 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 ERA26LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA247), Jun 24, 2026: Piper PA-22-150 (N4552A), Morganton, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot and flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure…

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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