Incident Overview
A Piper PA 46-310P aircraft experienced a partial loss of engine power and subsequently collided with a telephone pole during a forced landing. The pilot contacted the air traffic control facility (TRACON) and reported the partial power loss.
Flight Path
The airplane was located approximately two miles east of the airport at an altitude of about 3,500 feet MSL, heading in a southwesterly direction. TRACON instructed the pilot to turn to a 150-degree heading for radar vectors to Runway 33. The pilot did not execute the turn; instead, the aircraft continued on a southwesterly course. It passed the approach ends of two runways and continued westbound, eventually crashing 2.5 miles west of the airport.
Fuel Information
The pilot indicated that the airplane had 300 pounds (approximately 50 gallons) of fuel on board at takeoff. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook for the Piper PA 34-310P, which is likely similar, the fuel consumption rate is about 16 gallons per hour. The flight duration was approximately one hour. After the accident, there was no evidence of fuel in the airplane's fuel system, and no fuel spillage was observed from either wing.