| Crash location | 31.888333°N, 81.561667°W |
| Nearest city | Hinesville, GA
31.846877°N, 81.595945°W 3.5 miles away |
| Tail number | N4326X |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 14 Dec 2017 |
| Aircraft type | Piper Pa 32-300 |
| Additional details: | None |
On December 14, 2017 about 0854 eastern standard time, a Piper PA32-300, N4326X, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing at Wright Army Airfield (Fort Stewart)/Midcoast Regional Airport (LHW), Fort Stewart (Hinesville), Georgia. The airplane was registered to Air Jones LLC and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Metter Municipal Airport, Metter, Georgia at 0830.
In a statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the pilot said he was on final approach to LHW when he felt a shutter, followed by a loud bang. Immediately after, the windshield was covered in oil and the engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot reported to the air traffic controller that he was unable to land on the runway, and that he is "going down". About 2 miles short of the runway, the airplane impacted a tree line.