What happened
On October 7, 2025, at approximately 1825 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA24, registration N7946P, was involved in an accident near Vineyard, Utah. The flight, operated under Part 91 regulations, departed from South Valley Regional Airport (SVR) in West Jordan, Utah, carrying the pilot and a pilot-rated passenger.
While cruising at approximately 7,500 feet mean sea level, the pilot experienced a knocking sound and engine shuddering. In an attempt to address the issue, the pilot applied carburetor heat and followed emergency procedure checklists. Despite these efforts, the pilot was unable to restore engine power and notified air traffic control of an engine problem.
As power continued to decrease, the pilot turned toward Provo Airport (PVU). The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing on the east shoreline of Utah Lake. During the landing rollout, the aircraft struck a stump, causing substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and passenger were not injured.