Piper PA-28R-201 N125MT

Summary

On 2 January 2024 at about 16:11 local time, a Piper PA-28R-201 registered N125MT was involved in an accident near Wiggins, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 January 2024 at 16:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Wiggins, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

32.6203, -80.6067

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-201

Registration

N125MT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beaufort → Sumter

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA080

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed, requested flight following services from air traffic control while flying at 3,000 ft msl, and was then assigned a transponder code and identified 4 miles east of the departure airport. The airplane climbed on the runway heading for about 4.5 miles before turning north in a continued climb. The pilot subsequently advised the controller that the engine had “stopped” and declared a “mayday” while looking for a place to land. The controller offered multiple potential landing options to the pilot; however, she stated that she could not make the nearest and that she was going to land in a field. The airplane’s descent continued and groundspeed decreased until track data was lost about 1.2 miles from the accident site. The airplane came to rest partially submerged in a pond. Postaccident examination of the airframe and fuel-injected engine, including an engine test run, did not reveal evidence any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. During a magneto timing check, the right magneto would not time to the engine. However, the engine started and operated with the right-hand magneto in the as-found condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.