# NTSB ERA26LA328: Piper PA-28-180, N7635W, Dallas, GA, September 4, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: September 3, 2026, 20:04 local (Sep 4, 2026, 00:04 UTC) - Place: Dallas, GA · Wooded area - Coordinates: 33.91402, -84.918446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9140&lon=-84.9184&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA328 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203734/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA328 ## Preliminary report On September 3, 2026, at 2004 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7635W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dallas, Georgia. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot and flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform practice takeoffs and landings at Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport (PUJ), Dallas, Georgia. The student pilot arrived at the airport and performed a preflight inspection of the airplane. He sampled the fuel and found no contaminants, then checked its quantity with a fuel stick. He also checked the engine oil quantity and reported there were 6 quarts indicated on the oil dipstick. The flight instructor stated that he also checked the fuel and oil on the airplane and noted that there was nothing abnormal with the airplane. They then started the airplane and taxied to runway 13 for departure from PUJ. The student and flight instructor both stated that before departure, they performed an engine runup and did not notice anything abnormal. After departure they performed a series of uneventful touch-and-go landings at PUJ. During the accident touch-and-go, on initial climb the engine “cut out.” The flight instructor reported the airplane’s nose pitched down and the engine rpm abruptly dropped, but the propeller continued rotating. The student pilot reported that the flight instructor took control of the airplane and intended to land on a nearby road. Unable to reach that road, the flight instructor performed a forced landing in a densely wooded area. Preliminary review of ADS-B data showed that shortly after crossing the departure end of runway 13, and about 175 ft above ground level, the airplane turned left to the northeast. The airplane stopped climbing, continued to the northeast toward a road, and began descending. Just south of the road, the airplane turned east. Shortly thereafter ADS-B data showed no additional movement of the airplane. An on-scene examination by an FAA inspector found the airplane fuselage laying on its right side, with substantial damage, and both wings separated and suspended in trees. The airplane was equipped with avionics that were capable of recording flight data. They were recovered and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for data download. The airplane’s most recent 100-hour inspection occurred on September 1, 2026. The accident flight was the fifth flight after that inspection. The wreckage was recovered and 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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7635W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7635W), registered now, S/N 28-1604, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-1604 - Year built: 1964 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dependable Aviation - Registered owner: Dependable Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2026 - Departed: PUJ, Dallas, GA - Airport: PUJ, Paulding Northwest Atlanta - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 60° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: PUJ, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KPUJ 032355Z AUTO 06002KT 10SM FEW070 31/23 A3002 RMK AO2 10355 20307 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.