Incident Overview
On March 21, 2026, at approximately 1610 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N7328J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near West Valley City, Utah. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, the flight departed from South Valley Regional Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah (SVR), for a local flight. While returning to the departure airport at an altitude of about 5,800 feet mean sea level, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot referenced the airplane checklist to troubleshoot the loss of engine power but was unable to restore it. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot decided to perform an off-airport landing on an open dirt field.
Accident Sequence
During the landing roll on the dirt field, the airplane encountered rough terrain. The nose landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the dirt surface.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The wreckage was recovered for further examination. No determination of the cause of the power loss was provided in the preliminary report.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA-28-140 is a single-engine general aviation aircraft. The specific registration N7328J was involved in this occurrence.