Accident Overview
On June 10, 2025, at approximately 1220 central daylight time, a Beech A36, registration N15PM, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and came to rest suspended in vegetation near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The aircraft was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; a second passenger sustained serious injuries.
Pilot Narrative
According to the pilot, the flight had departed from Douglas Municipal Airport (DQH) in Douglas, Florida, and was en route to Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. During the flight, a partial loss of engine power occurred. The pilot reported that based on a "stumble" from the engine, he switched the fuel selector from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank and pushed the mixture control forward. This action initially restored power, but shortly thereafter the engine lost power again. The pilot declared an emergency and determined that he would not be able to reach MBT. He attempted a forced landing in a field, but realizing the field was out of reach, he turned toward a cemetery. He lowered the landing gear, pitched the nose up, and attempted to clear trees. The airplane contacted trees before reaching the cemetery and came to rest nose down, suspended in vegetation.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage after the accident. The left fuel tank contained a small amount of fuel with no evidence of impact breach. The right fuel tank was breached and held about 10 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector was found in the right fuel tank position. The ignition key was observed in the "both" position, while the mixture control, propeller control, and throttle were all in the full forward position. The wreckage was retained for further examination.