# NTSB CEN26LA149: Piper PA28, N1653J, Atlanta, TX, March 26, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: March 26, 2026, 07:20 local (12:20 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, TX
- Coordinates: 33.098835, -94.201006 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0988&lon=-94.2010&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA N Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202701
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA149
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202701/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA149

## Preliminary report

On March 26, 2026, about 0720 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-140 airplane, N1653J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to preliminary information obtained from the pilot, during the initial climb and while still over the runway, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot elected to land straight ahead, touching down just past the runway in a grassy area. During the landing rollout, the airplane collided with the airport’s perimeter chain link fence resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A FAA inspector responded to the accident site and found fuel in both wing tanks. Sumped fuel from the tanks showed no evidence of water contamination. The airplane had recently been fueled, and the airport’s fuel also showed no evidence of contamination. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1653J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1653J), registered now, S/N 28-24047, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (140)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-24047
- Year built: 1967
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Private Individual
- Registered owner: Hutto Nicholas K
- Destination: TXK, Texarkana, AR
- Airport: ATA, Hall-Miller Muni, runway 23, 3,800 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KATA, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KATA 261215Z AUTO 18003KT 9SM CLR 17/17 A3005 RMK AO2 T01710166 $=

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.