# NTSB ERA25LA172: Piper PA46R-350T, N179ST, Folkston, GA, April 10, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 10, 2025, 16:08 local (20:08 UTC)
- Place: Folkston, GA · Off to side of runway
- Coordinates: 30.795928, -82.028097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7959&lon=-82.0281&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Piper Aircraft, FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199992/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199992
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA172

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46R-350T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104610), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46R-350T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7104610), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA46R-350T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7104610), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA46R-350T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104610), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

At the conclusion of the instrument flight rules flight, the pilot approached the 2,500-ft-long by 50-ft-wide runway at the destination airport. The pilot was unable to recall any of the events that transpired after the landing flare, but the front seat passenger described that the airplane’s nose pitched up as the airplane descended below the tops of the trees that surrounded the airport. The pilot then initiated a go-around, but the airplane did not climb as expected and drifted left towards the trees. The left wing then dropped before the airplane struck the ground, resulting in a postimpact fire. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported, and a postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed, that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N179ST](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N179ST), registered now, S/N 4692003, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA46R-350T
- Registry model: [Piper PA46R-350T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa46r-350t) (registry code 7104610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-ae2a) (registry code 41999, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4692003
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 1502
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2024
- Departed: AJR, Cornelia, GA
- Destination: 3J6, Folkston, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 3J6, Davis Field, runway 01, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,510 total, 194 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 25 nm away
- METAR: KJAX 101956Z 09009KT 10SM SCT027 BKN090 23/16 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02330161

## 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 20250410019589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250410019589A), Apr 10, 2025: Piper Aircraft Inc PA46R-350T, Folkston, GA, Substantial damage. The landing for runway 01 was aborted, and “full” throttle was applied for a go-around. A pilot rated witness stated that upon hearing the engine rev to full…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199992. 22.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19771944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness interview summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 894 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19772004&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N179ST%20Brenton%20Franklin%201360-33%201%20Pilot%20Flight%20Times-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from Piper PA-46R-350T pilot's operating handbook - landing and go-around (normal procedures) (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19771113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Piper%20PA-46R-350T%20Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook%20-%20Landing%20and%20Go-Around%20(Normal%20Procedures)-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from Piper PA-46R-350T pilot's operating handbook landing and go-around (expanded) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20023361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Piper%20PA-46R-350T%20Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook%20Landing%20and%20Go-Around%20(Expanded)-Rel.pdf
- FAA air traffic chronological summary of flight (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 436 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19772079&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Chronological%20Summary%20of%20Flight-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 8 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19772629&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Aerial image of accident area (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 13.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19774147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Satellite%20Image%20of%20Davis%20Field%20(3J6)-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - wreckage examination (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19772176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Examination-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19772108&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19772462&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Party-Representative%20Form-Rev022024_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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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