Piper PA-28-140 N5780F

Summary

On 11 August 2022 at about 23:35 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N5780F was involved in an accident near Laurel, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 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

11 August 2022 at 23:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Laurel, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Laurel Muni (6S8)

Coordinates

45.6898, -108.7684

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N5780F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Harlowton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA301

2 people had minor injuries.

The loss of climb performance due to undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, although the airplane’s climb started out fine, shortly after takeoff its performance dropped off. The pilot attempted to return to the airport to land, but was unable to maintain sufficient altitude to reach the runway. He conducted an off-airport forced landing in a field, where the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane’s performance chart indicated that an adequate rate of climb was available given the airplane’s gross takeoff weight and the density altitude that day. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and, therefore, the reason for the loss of performance could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.