# Accident 20260814010319A: Piper PA-28-181, State College, PA, August 14, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2026, 08:56 local time
- Place: State College, PA
- Airport: State College Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0000° N, 78.0000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0000&lon=-78.0000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N586MA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N586MA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (registry code 41504, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1 total, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA307) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260814010319A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTATED ON AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH IN ACTUAL IFR CONDITIONS.  HE FLEW BELOW MINIMUMS AND STRUCK TREES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE.  HIS FLIGHT SKILLS AND AERONATUCAL DECISION MAKEING IS IN QUESTION.  A 44709-REEXAMINATION RIDE IS RECOMMENDED.

## 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 ERA26LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA307), Aug 14, 2026: Piper PA-28-181 (N586MA), Altoona, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s descent below the glidepath and collision with trees during a missed approach.

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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