Piper PA-28-160 accident near Lanett, Alabama, April 22, 2026
On April 22, 2026 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5958W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lanett, Alabama (Lanett Rgnl airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with taxiway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2026 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lanett, Alabama · Lanett Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5958W · registry record · serial 28-3764
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was approaching the destination airport for landing and reported that the landing approach was higher and faster than usual. The airplane floated in ground effect before eventually touching down. While decelerating the airplane during the landing roll, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and despite his attempts to make corrective control inputs, the airplane departed the paved runway surface. The airplane subsequently struck a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage to one of the engine’s mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have conducted a go-around rather than continue the unstable (high/fast) landing approach.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 106 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 8, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTS Destin FL at 9:00 pm
- Runway 24, 5,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from AUO, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAUO 222256Z AUTO 18007KT 10SM SCT090 26/08 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02560083 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Landing gear tracks in the ground leading up to airplane accident location.
Photograph 2 – Left front view of airplane showing collapsed nose gear.
Photograph 3 – View of broken engine mount.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Statement to FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.