Piper PA32 N6868D

Summary

On 2 September 2023 at about 00:38 local time, a Piper PA32 registered N6868D was involved in an accident near Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. 4 people were on board and one 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

2 September 2023 at 00:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.0368, -84.3337

Aircraft

Piper PA32

Registration

N6868D

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

Cincinnati → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ERA23LA362

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and three passengers departed on a local flight. After reaching a cruise altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level, the engine started to lose power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and tried to restart the engine several times but was unsuccessful in those attempts. She tried to return to the departure airport but realized she would not be able to reach the runway and maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing into trees. The airplane subsequently collided with the trees and came to rest on its tail section, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine confirmed continuity of the drivetrain and powertrain, with compression observed in each cylinder. The ignition system appeared intact and there was no evidence observed of any fuel or oil leakage. The examination did not reveal evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.