Piper PA-32-260 accident near Suches, Georgia, July 8, 2006
On July 8, 2006 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3380W, was destroyed in an accident near Suches, Georgia (High Valley Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to retract the wing flaps and his decision to make a turn while performing a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2006 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Suches, Georgia · High Valley Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3380W · no longer on the register · serial 32-235
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses stated they observed the airplane enter a left downwind for runway 02. The airplane touched down at midfield and bounced, touched down and rolled about 100 feet. The airplane was about three quarters down the runway when the witnesses heard an increase in engine power. The airplane lifted off and climbed to about 60 feet agl before starting a steep turn to the left. The airplane disappeared from view and collided with a house. According to statements the pilot made to first responders, he had landed long on the grass strip and decided to perform a go-around. Examination of the airplane after the accident showed the wing flaps were extended to the 40-degree position. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HXD Hilton Head Is SC at 1:49 pm
- Destination: GA87 Suches GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from GVL, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.