Piper PA-28-235 accident near New Bern, North Carolina, December 12, 2008
On December 12, 2008 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N38558, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near New Bern, North Carolina (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 2008 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Bern, North Carolina · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N38558 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7710065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After last flying the airplane about 3 weeks prior, and servicing the airplane with fuel about 2 weeks prior, the pilot performed a preflight inspection and an extended run-up of the engine, noting no problems. During the takeoff, about 100 feet above the ground, the engine suddenly and completely lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane struck a ditch and was substantially damaged. Attempts to test run the engine after the accident were all unsuccessful, despite the fact that no mechanical anomalies of the engine were noted during a visual inspection of the engine. A review of aircraft maintenance records revealed that the airplane had flown less than 10 hours since the last annual inspection, about 11 months prior, and the engine had never been overhauled in the 31 years since it was produced.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,060 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 9, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2008; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: A & M Aero INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE New Bern NC at 9:15 pm
- Destination: NONE New Bern NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from EWN, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.