# NTSB ANC26LA080: Piper PA-32-260, N8791E, Pinetown, NC, August 6, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 6, 2026, 13:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: Pinetown, NC
- Coordinates: 35.6842, -76.87625
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6842&lon=-76.8762&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA080
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203560/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA080

## Preliminary report

On August 6, 2026, about 1355 eastern daylight time, a Piper Aircraft PA-32-260 airplane, N8791E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pinetown, North Carolina. The private pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after departing Martin County Airport (MCZ), Williamston, North Carolina, enroute to Ocracoke Island Airport (W95), Ocracoke, North Carolina, he climbed to and leveled at 3,000 ft mean sea level. About 10 minutes after establishing cruise flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power. 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 rollout, the airplane's left wing struck a tree. The airplane subsequently impacted another tree and came to rest in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8791E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8791E), registered now, S/N 32-7600012, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7600012
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3217.5
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kl&Z Farms LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2025, 49 hours before
- Departed: MCZ, Williamston, NC
- Destination: W95, Ocracoke, NC
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: KMCZ
- METAR: KMCZ 061755Z AUTO 21006KT 10SM SCT039 33/24 A3021 RMK AO2 T03290237 10330 20245

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260806011069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260806011069A), Aug 6, 2026: Piper PA-32-260, Plymouth, NC, Substantial damage. 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),…

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

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