Piper PA-28-180 N9624J

Summary

On 23 February 2026 at about 18:34 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N9624J was involved in an accident near Monroe, North Carolina, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 February 2026 at 18:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Monroe, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Charlotte/Monroe Exec (EQY)

Coordinates

35.0127, -80.6262

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N9624J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wilmington → Monroe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA26LA123

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that before landing in gusting crosswind conditions, he verified the crosswind component was within the capability of the airplane and completed the descent checklist. After crossing midfield, he entered the left downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern and observed the windsock favoring runway 5, with wind “10-11 o’clock off the runway”. The before landing checklist was completed, and he planned to add 15 mph to his approach airspeed and utilize 20°of flaps. During final approach, reported wind was 340° at 15 knots, gusting to 27 knots. In the landing flare, the airplane encountered a “down forward forcing wind from the rear of the plane”, followed by a gust of wind from the left, before a go-around could be initiated. The airplane subsequently exited the runway, went over an embankment, and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage, wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.