Accident Overview
On July 2, 2022, at approximately 0829 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, registration N270SA, sustained substantial damage when it crashed near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger was fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that after takeoff from runway 18 at Sundance Airport (HSD) in Oklahoma City, the airplane did not perform as it normally would. As it climbed above the height of nearby houses, airspeed and altitude began to decrease. Unable to climb, the pilot allowed the airplane to drift west to avoid endangering anything. During a right turn, he lowered the nose to remain under transmission lines, but the airplane seemed to immediately “fall out of the sky.” It subsequently impacted the ground and slid to a stop, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Witness Observations
Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane low to the ground, not climbing, and in a right turn before it impacted the ground.
Weight and Balance
A review of weight and balance documentation showed a basic empty weight of 1,263.04 lb. The pilot weighed 180 lb, and the passenger weighed about 300 lb. The airplane was fueled to the tabs with approximately 36 gallons of fuel, and there was no reported cargo. Total weight was 1,959.04 lb, and the center of gravity (CG) was 86.24 inches aft of datum. The maximum gross weight was 2,150 lb. The forward CG limit was 84 inches and the aft limit 95.9 inches for weights up to 1,650 lb; at 1,975 lb, the forward limit shifted to 85.9 inches, while the aft limit remained 95.9 inches. At the accident weight, the CG of 86.24 inches was within the envelope.
Examination and Conditions
A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the computed density altitude based on a field elevation of 1,192 ft, altimeter setting of 29.97 inHg, and temperature of 26°C was 2,729 ft.