What happened
On July 31, 2024, at approximately 08:36 central daylight time, a Piper PA-3ASS-200T, registration N2106E, was involved in an accident near Wills Point, Texas. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
The pilot departed Wood County Airport (KJDD) in Mineola, Texas, at approximately 08:17, bound for Sierra Blanca Regional Airport (KSRR) in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The pilot had loaded 123 gallons of fuel into the aircraft prior to departure. After climbing to 6,500 feet, the aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of power from both engines approximately 15 minutes into the flight.
Following the engine failure, the pilot notified air traffic control and diverted toward Van Zandt County Regional Airport (76F). Despite attempting emergency procedures to restore power, the pilot was forced to perform a landing in a hay field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured.
The investigation
An FAA inspector conducted an on-scene examination and observed that both fuel tanks were nearly full at the time of the accident.