# NTSB ERA26LA144: Piper PA-28-140, N98360, Indian Trail, NC, March 8, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: March 8, 2026, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Indian Trail, NC · Contacted tree and came to rest in a cow pasture
- Coordinates: 35.109059, -80.585735 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1091&lon=-80.5857&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Lycoming Engines, Piper Aircraft, FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA144
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202622/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA144

## Preliminary report

On March 8, 2026, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N98360, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Indian Trail, North Carolina. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane had a total of 24 gallons of fuel onboard. After completing the preflight inspection, which included checking that fuel samples taken from the tank drains were absent of contaminants, they taxied to the runway for departure. The before takeoff checks were completed with no anomalies noted. The pilot conducted a short field takeoff and established an initial climb. About 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine “cut out”. The pilot reported multiple engine power fluctuations and was unable to maintain lift. He attempted a forced landing in a field, but the airplane’s left wing struck a tree about 30 ft agl, which separated the wing from the fuselage, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector found that the fuel selector was selected to the right wing fuel tank, which contained several gallons of fuel. A fuel sample was taken from the fuel tank drain and was absent of water or debris. The engine did not exhibit any external signatures of a catastrophic engine failure and contained 5 quarts of oil. According to the operator of the airplane, the engine had accumulated about 2,200 hours since it was overhauled in 2016. The most recent annual inspection of the airframe and engine was completed on December 23, 2025, and no major engine repairs were performed thereafter. 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.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98360](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98360), registered now, S/N 28-26184 (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: 28-26184
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jts Aircraft LLC
- Registered owner: Jts Aircraft LLC
- Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 28A, Goose Creek

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: EQY, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KEQY 081753Z AUTO 24015G20KT 10SM -RA FEW070 SCT080 OVC100 23/16 A3001 RMK AO2 RAB51 SLP163 P0000 60000 T02280156 10239 20178 58007

## 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 20260308007199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260308007199A), Mar 8, 2026: Piper PA-28-140, Indian Trail, NC, Substantial damage. On March 08, 2026, aircraft departed from Goose Creek Airport (28A) and experienced an engine failure during climbout. An off-field emergency landing was…

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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