April 16, 2006, Avondale, Penn. / Piper PA-28-140

The airplane was destroyed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at 1318 Eastern time. The Private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger, his son, was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The surviving passenger subsequently stated there were no anomalies noted during the preflight, engine start, run-up or during taxi. The takeoff was normal, and the airplane climbed to about 1500 feet. At that point, without warning, there was a loud metallic-sounding explosion, and oil sprayed onto the windscreen. At the same time, a section of the propeller departed the airplane. The airplane struck trees, burst into flames, and then collided with terrain. It was dest...

Key Takeaways:

• An airplane was destroyed during a forced landing following a sudden loss of engine power, resulting in the pilot's fatal injury and serious injury to his passenger.
• The engine failure occurred at approximately 1500 feet with a loud metallic explosion, oil spraying on the windscreen, and a section of the propeller departing the aircraft.
• The aircraft subsequently struck trees, burst into flames, and collided with terrain, leading to its destruction.

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