# NTSB CEN27LA013: Piper PA-28-140, N9859W, Abita Springs, LA, October 12, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: October 12, 2026, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Abita Springs, LA
- Coordinates: 30.445046, -89.988894 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4450&lon=-89.9889&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: Federal Aviation Administration, Baton Rouge FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN27LA013
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203995/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA013

## Preliminary report

On October 12, 2026, at 1540 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N9859W, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Abita Springs, Louisiana. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he topped off the airplane fuel level for a personal flight that was to remain in the local area. He stated the engine runup for the flight was performed with a left fuel tank selection, the runup was normal, and he did not change fuel tank positions for the duration of the flight. He then performed two full stop takeoff and landings without incident prior to attempting a third takeoff. During the third takeoff roll and rotation, the engine instrument indications were normal. While the airplane climbed through 700 ft above ground level and entered a left turn for the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the engine “sputtered.” The pilot stated that he verified the mixture control was in the full rich position and the fuel pump was on and “checked the carburetor heat with no apparent effect.” Shortly afterwards, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he engaged the engine starter, heard the starter operate, and saw the propeller turn, but the engine did not restart. He initially turned the airplane toward the departure runway but determined that the airplane would not have sufficient altitude to clear the trees along the return course. He identified an open field to his right, with a dirt road running through it, and selected that area for landing. During landing, the airplane impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing. The airplane owner stated that the airplane had not received a current annual inspection under CFR Part 91.409 at the time of the accident. 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)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9859W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9859W), registered now, S/N 28-23374, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- 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: 28-23374
- Year built: 1967
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Departed: L31, Abita Springs, LA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: L31, St Tammany Regional Airport, runway 18, 3,004 × 46 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: ASD, 16 nm away

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.

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