Abstract:PHC (prestressed high-strength concrete) pipe piles are widely applied in the construction field of infrastructures due to their notable advantages, such as high single-pile bearing capacity, environmentally efficient construction, wide range of applications, economical project cost, reliable pile-driving quality and exceptional durability. However, the phenomenon of PHC pipe piles failing the static load test is not uncommon. Taking the engineering accident in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) project in the soft soil area of Dongguan where the static load test bearing capacity of the PHC pipe pile is only 50% of the design value as the research object, through the inspection of design documents, geological exploration reports and construction records, the original data from the static load test are analyzed in detail, the accident causes are systematically studied, and the targeted treatment countermeasures and the follow-up improvement recommendations are proposed, which provide the important references for design optimization and accident treatment of PHC pipe pile projects in similar soft soil regions.