# NTSB ERA26LA127: Piper PA-28-151, N85RW, Arno, TN, February 24, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: February 24, 2026, 11:07 local (17:07 UTC) - Place: Arno, TN · 5014 McKee Padilla Road - Coordinates: 35.809761, -86.706258 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8098&lon=-86.7063&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA127 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202497/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA127 ## Preliminary report On February 24, 2026, about 1107 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N85RW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arno, Tennessee. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the cross-country flight was to build experience in preparation for his commercial pilot’s certificate. During the preflight inspection, he visually confirmed the fuel level was “to the tabs” in the fuel tanks, which equated to 40 gallons of fuel and noted that the electronic fuel gauges indicated the same quantity. After completing the before takeoff checks, he departed for Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT), Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Preliminary ADS-B data obtained from the FAA showed the airplane departed about 0827, climbed to a cruising altitude of 4,200 ft, then descended and landed at Jackson Regional Airport (MKL), Jackson, Tennessee, about 1005. The pilot stated that after landing, he taxied back to the active runway, without shutting down the airplane, for the return flight to MBT. The pilot estimated that about 10-15 gallons of fuel remained in each of the two wing tanks before departure. He completed his takeoff checklist and departed for MKL. ADS-B data showed that after departure at 1013, the airplane climbed on a southwesterly heading to a cruising altitude of about 7,000 ft, where it remained for 35 minutes. The pilot reported about 36 minutes before arrival at his destination, he felt the airplane’s “controls vibrating.” The pilot suspected carburetor ice and applied carburetor heat. He subsequently noticed the engine sputtering and the engine gauges “going back and forth.” He observed the fuel gauges for each wing tank indicate from 0 to 10 gallons, then back to 0. He also reported that the engine oil temperature and pressure gauges began to decrease, followed by total loss of engine power. He turned on the electric fuel pump and rotated the fuel selector from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank. The engine restarted but then lost all power about a minute later. He returned the fuel selector to the left tank, but the engine did not restart. The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control. Unable to reach a nearby airport, he selected a field for an off-airport landing. The last ADS-B data point at 1107 showed the airplane, at 825 ft above mean sea level (msl) and descending at 896 ft per minute. The airplane impacted trees at the edge of a field and came to a rest on the edge of a hill. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and wings. The wings separated from the fuselage at the wing roots and remained partially suspended in trees. Both wings sustained leading edge damage, scrapes, multiple punctures, broken fuel lines and were absent of fuel. The engine oil level gauge revealed about 4 quarts of oil in the engine at thetime of recovery. The fuel strainer was observed displaced aft, consistent with impact damage, and found absent of fuel. The wreckage 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. - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85RW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85RW), registered now, S/N 28-7715147, built 1976 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7715147 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 12047.4 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jkg LLC - Registered owner: Jkg LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 20, 2025, 97 hours before - Departed: MKL, jackson, TN - Destination: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: MQY, 14 nm away - METAR: METAR KMQY 241656Z 14008KT 10SM CLR 02/M08 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP236 T00171083 ## 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 20260224001619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260224001619A), Feb 24, 2026: Piper PA-28-151, College Grove, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft dispatched from mbt, PIC checked fuel levels by sticking his finger in the tank fill ports. There was neither fuel burn planning conducted nor an… 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.