Piper PA-24-260 accident near Blairsville, Georgia, October 13, 2021
On October 13, 2021 at about 12:16 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-24-260, registered N9126P, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Blairsville, Georgia (Blairsville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to commence the flight in low IFR weather conditions, and making immediate turns after takeoff in IMC, resulting in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2021 · about 12:16 pm local time
- Place
- Blairsville, Georgia · Blairsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260, built 1966 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N9126P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4605
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot arrived at the airport for an instrument flight rules (IFR), cross-country flight to find a low ceiling and thick fog conditions prevailing. He waited for the weather to improve; however, he elected to depart when the ceiling was 200 ft and the visibility was ¼ mile in fog. The published departure procedure required a climb in visual conditions to cross the airport at or above 4,500 ft before continuing on course. Flight track data indicated that, immediately after takeoff, the pilot commenced a left turn to the northwest followed by a reverse turn to the right before the data ended. The airplane impacted trees and the bank of a lake, descending at a 22° angle to the ground. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot was fatally injured. Witnesses reported that the area around the accident site was enshrouded in thick fog at the time of the accident. The pilot most likely entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) immediately after takeoff, experienced spatial disorientation, and lost control of the airplane. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or anomaly.
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 in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Decision related to condition
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,271 hours in all; 27 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 13, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,392 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 27, 2021; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4A5 (piston); 3,392 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SEF Sebring FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 08/2, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 am from KDZJ, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDZJ 131215Z AUTO 10003KT M1/4SM FG OVC002 14/ A3016 RMK AO2 T0135////
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
26 documents, released by the NTSB on October 25, 2023. 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.
Other NTSB records under N9126P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.