Piper PA24 accident near Wadesboro, NC
On August 20, 2021, a Piper PA24 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wadesboro, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 20, 2021
- Place
- Wadesboro, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.031°N, 80.089°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210820103731
Official records · ERA21FA333
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 20, 2021, about 1013 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N8262P, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Wadesboro, North Carolina. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the previous owner of the airplane, he sold the airplane to the accident pilot on August 4, 2021. The pilot drove from his home in Florida to Darr Field Airport (NC03), High Point, North Carolina, where the airplane was based at the time. The pilot, who also held a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings, as well as an inspection authorization, planned to complete repairs, perform an annual inspection, and fly the airplane to LaBelle Municipal Airport (X14), LaBelle, Florida. The repairs included replacing hoses, rebuilding a jammed fuel selector valve, repairing a corroded fuel line, and removing and checking one magneto. On the day of the accident, the pilot made an uneventful flight in the airplane from NC03 to Anson County Airport (AFP), Wadesboro, North Carolina. Before the day of the accident, the airplane had not been flown for about 15 years. The pilot purchased 51 gallons of fuel at AFP and departed for X14. According to witnesses, during startup, the engine sputtered and backfired. Shortly after takeoff, the engine sputtered and backfired again. The airplane then turned left and descended nose down into wooded terrain, where a postcrash fire ensued. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot’s logbook was not recovered during the in
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined. Contributing was the pilot’s loss of airplane control, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with trees and terrain.
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Browse: North Carolina · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
