Accident Overview
On July 3, 2017, at approximately 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-15 (registration N4195H) was destroyed in an accident near Farmville, Virginia. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Statement
According to a statement provided to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot had purchased the airplane the day before the accident and was returning to his home airport. He made a precautionary landing in a field due to a possible fuel transfer issue. After troubleshooting and confirming fuel flow to the engine, the pilot attempted to take off from the field. The pilot reported that, because of high vegetation, the airplane was "not able to get enough airspeed to climb out and clear the trees at the end of the field." He initiated a turn, which resulted in a low-altitude stall. The left wing struck the terrain, and the airplane cartwheeled before coming to rest upright in a corn field.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest in a corn field and was consumed by an extensive postcrash fire. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.