Accident Details
On March 20, 2008, at approximately 0750 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, registration N3304W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at the Union County Airport (M72) in New Albany, Mississippi. The airplane had experienced a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was destined for Roscoe Turner Airport (CRX) in Corinth, Mississippi, and was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was owned by the pilot and based at M72. According to the pilot, a preflight inspection and a normal engine run-up were performed prior to departure from Runway 36, a 3,900-foot-long asphalt runway. The airplane lifted off normally and climbed to an altitude of about 75 feet above the runway, when it began to "sputter" and then experienced a total loss of engine power. The airplane touched down hard on the remaining runway before going off the end, coming to a stop about 50 feet beyond the runway. Both occupants exited the airplane before a post-crash fire consumed a majority of the fuselage and the right wing.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the engine but did not identify evidence of any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported that the airplane had flown for 1.3 hours since it was refueled to its maximum capacity of 84 gallons, 9 days prior to the accident. Fuel recovered from the airplane’s left wing was absent of contamination. The airplane had been operated for about 40 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on August 9, 2007.