Piper PA 32R-300 N4646F

Summary

On 10 August 2014 at about 15:04 local time, a Piper PA 32R-300 registered N4646F was involved in an accident near West Jordan, Utah, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 August 2014 at 15:04

Classification

Accident

Location

West Jordan, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

South Valley Rgnl (U42)

Coordinates

40.6036, -111.9914

Aircraft

Piper PA 32R-300

Registration

N4646F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Jordan → Boise

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14LA336

3 people were seriously injured.

A partial loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined due to the severity of the damage to the engine.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses located adjacent to the accident site reported that they observed the airplane depart, and that, as it was climbing, they heard the pilot state, "emergency," several times on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency; however, the pilot did not specify the nature of the emergency. The airplane subsequently struck a light post and then landed in an open soccer field south of the airport, and a postimpact fire ensued. Other witnesses located at the airport reported that the engine seemed to be backfiring throughout the entire takeoff and accident sequence. The pilot reported that he recalled the initial takeoff sequence and making the distress call; however, he did not recall the nature of the emergency or the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the airplane, flight control systems, engine, and propeller revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Review of the airplane manufacturer's takeoff performance charts revealed that, at the time of the accident, the weather and environmental conditions were within the airplane's takeoff performance limitations. Given that the witnesses reported that the engine was backfiring and that the pilot declared an emergency, it is likely that the engine experienced a partial loss of power during initial climb. Due to the severity of the damage to the engine, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.