Piper PA-28-180 accident near Jasper, Georgia, January 17, 2009
On January 17, 2009 at about 6:19 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9459J, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Jasper, Georgia (Pickens County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2009 · about 6:19 pm local time
- Place
- Jasper, Georgia · Pickens County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9459J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the left seat was receiving his flying club annual review. Following local airwork, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for touch-and-go landings. The first two traffic patterns and landings were uneventful. Immediately after takeoff following the second landing, the engine lost power, momentarily recovered, then lost power again. Unable to make the runway, a forced landing was performed in an area adjacent to the runway. The airplane landed hard and came to a stop. The left wing buckled, left main landing gear was driven up into the wing, and the nose gear collapsed. An examination of the airplane at the accident site did not reveal a reason for the loss of power. There was adequate fuel on board the airplane and no contaminants were found. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, the engine was successfully run on the airframe with fuel recovered from the wings. The flight was not operated in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 940 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 840 as pilot in command; 205 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 29, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,560 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,076 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,124 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 2008; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-43A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lockheed Martin Employee Assoc Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: RYY Marietta GA at 5:37 pm
- Destination: JZP Jasper GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point -2°F (-19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 6:24 pm from 47A, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.