# NTSB ERA25LA294: Piper PA-28-151, N1080H, Chamblee, GA, August 9, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 9, 2025, 00:33 local (04:33 UTC)
- Place: Chamblee, GA · On the side of a road
- Coordinates: 33.875551, -84.309596 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8756&lon=-84.3096&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO, Piper
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200752
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA294
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200752/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA294

## Preliminary report

On August 9, 2025, about 0033 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N1080H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), Chamblee, Georgia. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured, and a passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to conduct the student pilot’s night cross-country training. The flight instructor reported that the airplane’s fuel level was “above the tabs” prior to departure, and based on his flight planning, he assumed 34 gallons total onboard, which he estimated would provide a 3-hour endurance with reserves. The student pilot also recalled that the fuel level was at the tabs before departure. The flight departed PDK and flew to Richard B. Russell Regional Airport (RMG), Rome, Georgia, where the student pilot completed five full-stop landings before returning to PDK. The flight instructor stated the flight entered the PDK traffic pattern and performed three landings and two go-arounds. During the final go-around, when the airplane was about 300 to 400 ft above ground level, the engine “abruptly” lost power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and directed the student to switch fuel tanks. The flight instructor heard a brief “cough” from the engine, but power was not restored. He identified a clear area leading to a road and attempted an off-airport landing. During the descent, the airplane struck powerlines and then a tree before coming to rest. A review of fueling records revealed that the airplane was last fueled on August 6, 2025, following the final flight of that day. The airplane was recovered 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-28-151, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1080H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1080H), registered now, S/N 28-7715306 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7715306
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 6975
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2024, 58.5 hours before
- Departed: PDK, Chamblee, GA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KPDK, 1 nm away
- METAR: KPDK 090453Z 08005KT 10SM CLR 22/19 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP201 T02170189 402830194

## 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 20250809019569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250809019569A), Aug 9, 2025: Piper PA-28-151, Chamblee, GA, Destroyed. The instructional flight conducted under part 61 was planned for three hours. The flight left Dekalb–Peachtree airport (pdk) at approximately 2212, enroute to…

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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