Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Auburn, Alabama, January 6, 2010
On January 6, 2010 at about 10:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8448Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Auburn, Alabama (Auburn-Opelika 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
The pilot's loss of directional control after landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 2010 · about 10:46 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Alabama · Auburn-Opelika Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8448Y · registry record · serial 32R-8129111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing, the pilot applied the brakes to slow the airplane for a left turn off the runway. Instead, the airplane began a turn to the right, which could not be corrected with left brake application. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to a stop upright on a grass apron. A postaccident examination of both the left and right brakes by an aircraft mechanic revealed that the brakes turned freely with no dragging noted and that they appeared to be functional at the time of the examination.
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 (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,386 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPN Thomaston GA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: AUO Auburn AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,264 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from AUO
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.