What happened
On January 24, 2026, at approximately 0712 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registration N91MK, was involved in an accident near Sioux City, Iowa. The aircraft was being operated under Part 91 for personal use.
Following the initial climb and after leveling off at 2,500 feet mean sea level, the pilot reported feeling two "thugs" and noticing fluctuations in manifold pressure, followed by a drop in engine oil pressure. After notifying Air Traffic Control of the intent to return to the airport, the pilot heard a loud "boom" while on a north heading, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
The pilot performed a forced landing into a field. During the impact, the engine and the left wing struck the terrain and became separated from the aircraft. The right wing and the forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The pilot noted that a similar "thug" sensation had occurred during a flight four days prior to the accident, though no other abnormal indications were observed at that time.