Accident Details
On September 5, 2025, at 1645 central daylight time, a Piper Cherokee PA-24-180, registration N5759P, was involved in an accident near Ashland City, Tennessee. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he departed St. Charles County Regional Airport/Smartt Field (SET) in St. Charles, Missouri, at approximately 1500, bound for John C. Thune Airport (JWN) in Nashville, Tennessee. While preparing for arrival at JWN, he twisted the mixture control knob to the full rich position. Immediately, the engine began to run rough and lose power.
Engine Troubleshooting
The pilot contacted air traffic control and performed emergency checklist procedures to address the power loss. He reported: "I put the fuel boost pump on, switched tanks, verified ignition was on, verified the mixture full rich, turned carb heat on and verified that the primer was in and locked. I observed about 1000 RPM and 3 GPH on the fuel totalizer. The engine felt like it was idle and unresponsive to throttle inputs." Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing in a cornfield. The landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Aftermath
The airplane was recovered from the cornfield and transported to a secure facility for further examination.