What happened
On August 4, 2024, at approximately 13:15 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registration N135DG, was involved in an accident near Sacramento, California. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
Prior to departure from McClellan Airfield (KMCC), the pilot refueled both tanks and performed a preflight inspection, which included an engine runup. During this process, the pilot verified the fuel selector lever was set to the right-wing tank. During the takeoff roll on runway 16, the pilot set takeoff power to 39 inches of manifold pressure.
Shortly after liftoff, the engine began to sputter. The pilot observed the manifold pressure drop to approximately 31 inches while at an altitude of about 500 feet mean sea level. After the propeller stopped spinning, the pilot initiated a 180-degree turn toward the airport, switched the fuel boost pump to the high position, and declared an emergency with the local air traffic control tower. Realizing the airport was unreachable, the pilot performed a forced landing into a nearby golf course. During the landing, the aircraft struck the ground and slid into a building, coming to rest in an upright position. The pilot sustained one minor injury.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that both wings sustained substantial damage.