What happened
On February 24, 2026, a PIPER PA-28-151, registration N85RW, was involved in an accident near Arno, Tennessee. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of building experience for a commercial pilot certificate.
After landing at Jackson Regional Airport (MKL) earlier that morning, the pilot taxied back to the active runway without shutting down the engine to prepare for a return flight to Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT). The pilot estimated that approximately 10 to 15 gallons of fuel remained in each wing tank at the time of this departure.
After climbing to a cruising altitude of approximately 7,000 feet, the pilot reported feeling vibrations in the controls about 36 minutes before reaching the destination. Suspecting carburetor ice, the pilot applied carburetor heat. Shortly after, the engine began sputtering, and the engine gauges fluctuated. The pilot noted that the fuel gauges for both wing tanks were oscillating between 0 and 10 gallons. Following a decrease in engine oil temperature and pressure, the engine suffered a total loss of power.
Although the pilot successfully restarted the engine by using the electric fuel pump and switching the fuel selector from the left to the right tank, the engine lost power again approximately one minute later. After being unable to reach an airport, the pilot declared an emergency and selected a field for an off-airport landing. The aircraft impacted trees at the edge of a field and came to rest on the edge of a hill. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An FAA inspector's post-accident examination of the N85RW revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings. The wings separated from the fuselage at the wing roots and remained partially suspended in trees. Both wings exhibited leading edge damage, scrapes, punctures, and broken fuel lines, and were found to be empty of fuel. The engine oil level gauge showed approximately 4 quarts of oil remained in the engine. The fuel strainer was found displaced aft, which was consistent with impact damage, and was also empty of fuel.