# NTSB ERA26LA247: Piper PA-22-150, N4552A, Morganton, NC, June 24, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 24, 2026, 11:42 local (15:42 UTC) - Place: Morganton, NC - Coordinates: 35.823591, -81.610633 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8236&lon=-81.6106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 1, 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): 203238 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203238/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203238 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA247 ## Probable cause The pilot and flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to complete a positive exchange of flight control following the loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot recently purchased the tailwheel-equipped airplane and was receiving make/model specific recurrency training from the flight instructor. Following a successful landing, the flight instructor briefed the pilot that the next takeoff would be an exercise in rudder management and maintaining runway alignment by reducing engine power during the takeoff roll after the tail rose off the ground. The exercise would end when about 1,000 feet of runway remained, after which the pilot would take off. The pilot stated that he understood the exercise would be a type of high-speed taxi, and that the flight instructor would operate the throttle. During the subsequent maneuver, the flight instructor described that when the tail rose up and he reduced engine power, the pilot initially applied right rudder to correct for the airplane’s minimal drift to the left, but then did not relax that right rudder input. The flight instructor then called for the pilot to apply left rudder, and the flight instructor began to apply left rudder himself, but he felt resistance to the control input. The flight instructor then repeatedly verbalized for the pilot to transfer control of the airplane to him, but that did not occur until after the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The airplane subsequently traversed an excavated area and an earthen berm before striking a drainage ditch and coming to rest. The flight instructor was seriously injured and the airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged. Following the accident, the pilot described that this takeoff technique was different from the one that he had originally been trained to perform. Specifically, the flight instructor told him to place the control yoke full forward at the start of the takeoff roll so that the tail would rise up immediately, rather than holding the control yoke aft and raising the tail only after speed was attained. Of the previous takeoffs he had made using this technique, including the accident maneuver, the pilot stated that he felt that he never had the control authority that he should. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4552A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4552A), registered now, S/N 22-3862, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-3862 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 3381 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2026 - Departed: 7A8, Spruce Pine, NC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MRN, Foothills Rgnl, runway 21, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: serious; private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,323 total, 156 in this make and model, 5,109 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,172 total, 2 in this make and model, 1,172 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KMRN - METAR: METAR KMRN 241435Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A3017 ## 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 20260624010609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260624010609A), Jun 24, 2026: Piper PA-22-150, Morganton, NC, Substantial damage. On June 24, 2026, a flight instructor and private pilot departed avery county airport in aircraft N4552A. Following standard pre-flight preparations, the crew… ## Other investigations on N4552A (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI67F0525](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67F0525), Mar 2, 1967: Piper PA-22 (N4552A), Kalamazoo, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203238. 24.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20734657&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120%20-%20PDF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20755923&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Telephone%20Interview%20-%20Pilot%20-%20PDF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Instructor personal information for 6120 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20862825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor%206120%20-%20PDF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor - instructor 6120 statement (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20871878&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Instructor%20Statement%20From%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video from airport fuel farm (item 5, MP4, 14.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20740007&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Video%20from%20Airport%20Fuel%20Farm-Rel.mp4 - Investigation photos (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20878980&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20PDF%202_Redacted-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. --- 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.