Accident Details
On January 18, 2026, about 1640 central standard time, a Piper PA28-140 airplane, registration N6711J, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Holly Springs, Mississippi. The flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
According to the airport manager, the airplane had departed Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport (M41) after conducting several touch and go landings. No ADS-B data was available for the accident flight.
Location and Impact
The airplane impacted terrain in a wooded area about 693 ft east of the departure end of runway 18 at M41. The first identified impact point was a pine tree about 185 ft south of the main wreckage. The airplane struck numerous pine trees along the impact path. Five branches were located at the site, varying from .75 to 2 in diameter, with clean cut marks and black paint transfer consistent with the airplane's propeller. No ground impact marks were found at the accident site. A post-impact fire consumed a large portion of the airframe.
Wreckage Examination
The flight instruments and flight controls were thermally damaged or destroyed. The manual flap selector was thermally damaged and found in the full flap (40 degree) position. The fuel selector valve was selected to the right fuel tank position and functioned normally when tested with low-pressure air. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The stabilator trim cables were continuous, and the stabilator trim actuator control rod was extended 1.6 in on the top side of the actuator, consistent with a partial nose up trim position.
Engine Examination
The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-E3D reciprocating engine. The engine remained attached to the engine mount. The propeller assembly was partially embedded in soft dirt. Engine control cable continuity was confirmed from the firewall forward to both the mixture and throttle arms of the engine's carburetor. The mixture was found halfway between lean and rich, and the throttle arm was found at a partial power setting. The engine primer control was found in the forward and locked position.
Spark plugs had normal wear patterns and coloration consistent with normal engine operation. The lower plugs on cylinders Nos. 1 and 2 were oil soaked consistent with oil drainage. The lower spark plug for cylinder No. 3 was impact fractured. Borescope examination of each cylinder found no anomalies. Thumb suction and compression were confirmed on all cylinders, and all rocker arms moved freely.
Oil lines to the oil cooler were attached. The oil filter was attached but thermally damaged; inspection revealed no metallic particles. The oil suction screen was free of debris. Oil was present in the sump, but total quantity was not determined.
Both magnetos were present and exhibited thermal damage; they would bind during rotation. The left magneto was disassembled and showed internal thermal damage; the right magneto was not disassembled due to higher thermal damage. The engine-driven fuel pump showed thermal damage; gaskets and diaphragms were thermally damaged, but the activation rod moved freely with crankshaft rotation.
The exhaust system was free of blockages. Intake pipes were clear. The carburetor remained attached; no fuel or fluid was found in the float bowl. No sediment was present, and brass floats were undamaged. The needle and seat were present, with the seat undamaged but thermally discolored, and the needle tip deformed consistent with fire exposure.
Propeller
The propeller assembly was partially embedded in the ground. Both blades remained attached and were largely intact, with slight thermal discoloration on one blade. No bending or deformation was noted, but slight chordwise scratches and smears consistent with cut pine branches were observed.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.