Piper PA-32R-301T N327HP

Summary

On 16 November 2025 at about 13:45 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T registered N327HP, operated by Outter Banks Air Charters, was involved in an accident near Woodfin Mill, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

16 November 2025 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Woodfin Mill, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

33.0900, -84.2600

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301T

Registration

N327HP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2000

Engines

1

Operator

Outter Banks Air Charters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Naples

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA26LA040

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On November 16, 2025, about 0845 eastern standard time, a Piper Pa-32R-301T, N327HP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Woodfin Mill, Georgia. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that he had about 100 gallons of aviation fuel and 8 1/2 quarts of oil and that the preflight, engine start and initial climb were normal. About 10 minutes into the flight, the engine began surging, but all of the gauges were in the green and indicated normal readings. The pilot initiated a turn back to the departure airport and shortly after, the engine began losing power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot and ran the emergency checklist items but his attempts to restore full power were unsuccessful and the engine power continued to deteriorate. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to make a forced landing on a nearby private grass strip, but during maneuvering for the approach, the engine lost all remaining power, and he was unable to make it to the intended landing site. With limited options, he attempted a landing on a farm pasture that was surrounded by trees and powerlines. During short final, the airplane cleared the trees, but the pilot was unable to fly over the powerlines due to the low airspeed and rate of descent. The airplane’s left wing contacted a powerline line shortly before touchdown and the airplane landed hard, shearing off the nose landing gear and collapsing the mains before skidding to a stop. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings and airframe; the left wing was broken mid spar, and the engine compartment was significantly canted upwards. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.