# NTSB ERA26LA185: Piper PA-28-160, N5958W, Lanett, AL, April 22, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 22, 2026, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Lanett, AL
- Coordinates: 32.811843, -85.229486
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8118&lon=-85.2295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202878
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202878/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202878
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA185

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with taxiway sign.

## 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 PA-28-160, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102806), [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 PA-28-160, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102806), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was approaching the destination airport for landing and reported that the landing approach was higher and faster than usual. The airplane floated in ground effect before eventually touching down. While decelerating the airplane during the landing roll, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and despite his attempts to make corrective control inputs, the airplane departed the paved runway surface. The airplane subsequently struck a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage to one of the engine’s mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have conducted a go-around rather than continue the unstable (high/fast) landing approach.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5958W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5958W), registered now, S/N 28-3764 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-160
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (registry code 7102806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-3764
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: DTS, Destin, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 7A3, Lanett Rgnl, runway 24, 5,400 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 106 total, 90 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: AUO, 16 nm away
- METAR: METAR KAUO 222256Z AUTO 18007KT 10SM SCT090 26/08 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02560083 $

## 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 20260422004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260422004539A), Apr 22, 2026: Piper PA-28-160, Lanett, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot approached runway and landed long, during rollout, pilot lost control and left the paved portion of the runway, striking a runway marker and sign before…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202878. 5.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20300266&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot_s%206120_Redacted-Rel_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20289942&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_Pilot%20Call%20to%20NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - pilot statement to FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20289703&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - witness statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20289801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20289952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photos-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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