Piper PA28 accident near Aberdeen, Mississippi, March 29, 2019
On March 29, 2019 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1965 Piper PA28, registered N8397W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Aberdeen, Mississippi (Monroe County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a collision with a fence and impact with terrain during the attempted aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2019 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Aberdeen, Mississippi · Monroe County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 180, built 1965 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N8397W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2607
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and the passenger, who had recently purchased the airplane, were repositioning the airplane to the destination airport. According to the passenger, who was a student pilot, the pilot was acting as the pilot-in-command and was manipulating the flight controls. The passenger stated that the flight was uneventful until landing. During the landing flare, the airplane was slightly left of the runway centerline when it suddenly veered left after touchdown. As the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, the pilot applied full power and attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing, the airplane collided with the airport perimeter fence then continued into a ditch. The pilot had no memory of the accident flight. The postaccident airplane examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The flaps were found fully extended. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control during landing and that the airplane did not gain enough altitude during the go-around attempt to avoid the airport perimeter fence.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 819 hours in all; 7.9 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 664 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 24, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,687.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2019
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 1,575 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAB Hamilton AL at 10:15 pm
- Destination: M40 Aberdeen MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,999 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from KM40
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airport Manager's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Statement - Pilot-in-command | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Student Pilot's Logbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Airport Video | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.