# NTSB ERA25LA316: Piper PA-28-140, N1684J, Seneca, SC, August 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 26, 2025, 08:31 local (12:31 UTC)
- Place: Seneca, SC · Field Between McGregor Rd and
Seneca Creek Rd
- Coordinates: 34.683524, -82.867787 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6835&lon=-82.8678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA316
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200864/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA316

## Preliminary report

On August 26, 2025, at 0831 eastern standard time, a Piper PA28-140, N1684J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Seneca, South Carolina. The sole occupant, a student pilot, received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform a cross-country flight as part of training to obtain a private pilot certificate. Prior to the flight, the student pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and noted that “all appeared to be normal and functioning correctly.” After refueling the airplane with 25.2 gallons, the pilot estimated the airplane had 42 gallons of total fuel onboard. He also estimated that 7 gallons of fuel would be required for the round-trip flight. The takeoff and climb from Jackson County Airport (JCA), Jefferson, Georgia were reported to be uneventful. The cruise altitude was 5,500 ft mean sea level (msl). Cruise and the subsequent descent were also reported to be uneventful. The pilot planned to enter the midfield downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing on runway 25 at Oconee County Regional Airport (CEU), Seneca, South Carolina. After he entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg, he selected full flaps. When the airplane was about 600 ft above ground level (agl), during the downwind to base turn, the pilot stated that engine began “misfiring and then shut off.” The pilot adjusted pitch to maintain 80 miles per hour and aimed the airplane towards the runway. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot by switching fuel tanks, moving the mixture control to the full rich position, and opening and closing the throttle. At 100 ft agl, the pilot determined that gliding to the runway was unlikely and aimed for a nearby field. At 0831, surveillance camera footage showed a low wing airplane strike a utility pole, before it impacted the tree line. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and noted that the wings, engine mounts and fuselage of the airplane sustained substantial damage. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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: [N1684J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1684J), registered now, S/N 28-24086, 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: 28-24086
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 3881.3
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Jarriel Investments Inc
- Registered owner: Jarriel Investments Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2025, 1 hours before
- Departed: JCA, Jefferson, GA
- Destination: CEU, Seneca, GA
- Airport: CEU, Oconee County Rgnl, runway 25, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: CEU
- METAR: KCEU 261154Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/17 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP195 T01780172 10194 20172 53017

## 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 20250826018049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250826018049A), Aug 26, 2025: Piper PA-28-140, Seneca, SC, Destroyed. Student pilot was on a solo cross country flight. After turning base to land at kceu, his engine began to run rough, then quit. He did not believe he had…

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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