What happened
On October 28, 2025, at approximately 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registration N5107S, was involved in an accident near Upland, California. The aircraft was being operated under Part 91 regulations for a personal flight.
While flying approximately 33 miles west of Cable Airport (KCCB), the pilot noticed the oil pressure dropping to the lower limit of the green arc. As the aircraft reached 14 miles west of KCCB, the oil pressure dropped to zero, though other engine indications remained normal. The pilot reduced power to approximately 16–17 inches of Hg and began a descent from 5,000 feet MSL, adjusting the course southward to avoid terrain and stay near Brackett Field Airport (POC).
During the descent through 3,000 feet MSL, the pilot witnessed an explosion inside the engine cowling. This was followed by significant engine roughness, shaking, and a reduction in power. Despite further throttle reduction, the engine failed to regain power. The pilot declared an emergency and requested to land at POC. After observing smoke coming from the cowling, the pilot leaned the mixture and deactivated the fuel pump to perform a power-off emergency landing.
While maneuvering onto runway 26L, the pilot retracted the landing gear and kept the flaps at 0°. During the base-to-final turn, the stall warning activated. The pilot reported that the aircraft stalled in a level attitude roughly 15 to 20 feet above the ground, resulting in a hard landing. The aircraft touched down on the northern edge of the displaced threshold and slid sideways to a stop in the center of runway 26L. There were no injuries to the pilot or passenger.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and the lower fuselage.