What happened
On September 14, 2024, at approximately 14:05 EDT, a Piper PA-32-260, registration N6FT, was involved in an accident near Baltimore, Maryland. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. The pilot intended to fly two passengers around the airport traffic pattern for a planned duration of 10 minutes.
After taxiing to runway 15L and waiting in line for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, the pilot received takeoff clearance. With the fuel selector set to the left main tank, the pilot applied full power. The aircraft rotated at 80 mph and became airborne halfway down the 5,000-foot runway. After accelerating to between 110 and 115 mph, the engine experienced a complete loss of power at an altitude of approximately 200 feet.
In response to the power loss, the pilot pushed the elevator control forward, causing the aircraft to touch down on the runway at a high airspeed. As the throttle was moved to the full forward position, the engine regained power, allowing the aircraft to climb off the runway. The pilot then pushed the elevator forward again, causing the aircraft to touch down on the grass. The aircraft subsequently crested a hill and came to rest near a building on the airport property. All occupants, including the pilot and two passengers, were not injured.
The investigation
An initial inspection conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector at the accident site determined that the right main fuel tank had been breached, though the left main tank remained intact. No contaminants were found in the left main fuel tank.