Accident Details
On August 11, 2017, at about 1755 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-200, registration N33732, was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing near West Jordan, Utah. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, while two other passengers were not injured.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, he performed a weight and balance calculation before the cross-country flight from South Valley Regional Airport (U42), Salt Lake City, Utah, to Casper, Wyoming, and determined the weight was just below maximum gross weight. Run-up checks, including leaning the mixture, revealed no anomalies. A weather advisory at 1730 reported wind from 130° at 3 knots, altimeter setting 30.03 inches of mercury, and density altitude of 7,400 ft.
After takeoff from runway 16, the pilot retracted the landing gear and one notch of flaps when the airplane reached 80 mph. The airplane climbed to about 350 to 400 ft above ground level but then stopped climbing and failed to accelerate beyond 80 mph. The stall indication light illuminated. The pilot lowered the nose slightly to gain airspeed, but airspeed did not increase. Believing they were in trouble, the pilot attempted to return to the airport. During a right turn, the airplane began losing altitude, and after completing the turn, the pilot realized he would not reach the runway. With power lines ahead, he lowered the nose and flew under the wires, then landed in an uneven open field. The left wing was substantially damaged.
Engine Examination
The pilot reported no loss of engine power. An engine examination and a successful engine run found no mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather and Climb Performance
At 1755, local automated weather at U42 indicated wind from 120° at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 32°C, dew point 12°C, and altimeter setting 30.03 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 7,600 ft. The airplane's climb performance chart indicated that at gross weight (2,650 lbs), full throttle, mixture leaned, landing gear and flaps retracted, and airspeed of 100 mph, the rate of climb was about 490 ft per minute at that density altitude.