# NTSB ERA26LA284: Piper PA28, N44704, Palmetto, FL, July 24, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 24, 2026, 08:20 local (12:20 UTC) - Place: Palmetto, FL - Coordinates: 27.642142, -82.520497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6421&lon=-82.5205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 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): 203491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA284 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203491/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203491 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA284 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he was taking the private pilot on a familiarization and training flight. The flight instructor planned to fly to a nearby turf runway where he would demonstrate a soft-field takeoff. While departing from the turf runway, the flight instructor flew the airplane in ground effect longer than was necessary and then turned left crosswind while still at a low altitude. The airplane’s left wing subsequently contacted a barbed wire fence, and the wire wrapped around the wing. The flight instructor returned to the airport, landed uneventfully, and removed the barbed wire from the wing. He subsequently performed a preflight inspection, and after nothing that the flight control surfaces were operating normally, returned to the airplane’s home airport uneventfully. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed the left wing had been substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44704](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44704), registered now, S/N 28-7515008, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (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: 28-7515008 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 5084 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2026 - Destination: PIE, St Petersburg, FL - Airport: 48X, Manatee, runway 07, 3,120 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2025; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,575 total, 430 in this make and model, 1,506 as pilot in command, 223 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 3, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 227 total, 227 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: SPG, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KSPG 241153Z 10006KT 10SM CLR 28/26 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02830256 10289 20278 53005 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203491. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20765836&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20-%20N44704_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20766474&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N44704%20-%20pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20765846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%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. --- 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.