The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ERA26LA296 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA32 accident near Dawsonville, Georgia, August 9, 2026

On August 9, 2026 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Piper PA32, registered N3011X, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dawsonville, Georgia. It was flown under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 9, 2026 · about 3:58 pm local time
Place
Dawsonville, Georgia
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people were seriously injured.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA32 300 · all PA32s on the register
Registration
N3011X · registry record
Damage
Not recorded
Flight
Flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
  2. Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
  3. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
  4. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
  • Sky: clear

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.