Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer, N4552A, accident occurred on June 24, 2026, at Foothills Regional Airport (MRN/KMRN), Morganton, North Carolina

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4552A

- History of Flight:
On June 24, 2026, at about 1050 local time, a privately-registered Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer, N4552A, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Foothills Regional Airport (MRN/KMRN), Morganton, North Carolina. There was a pilot and passenger onboard, one of them sustained minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time.

The FAA reported that the airplane was on takeoff roll, veered off the runway and went into a ditch.

ADS-B data shows that the airplane landed at KMRN at 1042 and taxied to the ramp. The airplane was seen again about 8 minutes later taxing to runway 21. The airplane veered off the right side going about 40 knots groundspeed.

Figure 1: ADS-B data, note previous landing on same runway

- Weather:

METAR KMRN 241435Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A3017 RMK AO2 T02340143

METAR KMRN 241455Z AUTO 00000KT CLR 24/13 A3016 RMK AO2 T02430132 PWINO