# Accident 20260806011069A: Piper PA-32-260, Plymouth, NC, August 6, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 6, 2026, 13:54 local time
- Place: Plymouth, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.6842° N, 76.8762° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6842&lon=-76.8762&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8791E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8791E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 943 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC26LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260806011069A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 6, 2026, AT ABOUT 1355 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER AIRCRAFT PA-32-260 AIRPLANE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, DEPARTED MARTIN COUNTY AIRPORT (MCZ), WILLIAMSTON, NORTH CAROLINA, ENROUTE TO OCRACOKE ISLAND AIRPORT (W95), OCRACOKE, NORTH CAROLINA. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO AND LEVELED OFF AT 3,000 FT MEAN SEA LEVEL. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER ESTABLISHING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE RECIPROCATING ENGINE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND STARTED WIND MILLING. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED THE AIRPLANE'S BEST-GLIDE AIRSPEED, TRANSMITTED A MAYDAY CALL, AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. UNABLE TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER, HE SELECTED A LOGGING PATH WITHIN A WOODED AREA FOR A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING IMPACTED SEVERAL TREES AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE.

## 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 ANC26LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA080), Aug 6, 2026: Piper PA-32-260 (N8791E), Pinetown, NC, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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