August 16, 2012, Holton, Kan., Piper PA-24-260 Comanche

The pilot made a forced landing on a rural road at 2154 Central time. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. Another passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. While en route, the pilot reported to ATC the propeller was overspeeding, there was smoke in the cockpit, the engine was losing power and he couldn’t maintain altitude.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot executed a forced landing on a rural road due to an engine overspeed, smoke in the cockpit, and loss of power.
The aircraft clipped trees and impacted a ditch during the landing attempt, resulting in substantial damage.
The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries, while a third passenger suffered minor injuries.

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While en route, the pilot reported to ATC the propeller was overspeeding, there was smoke in the cockpit, the engine was losing power and he couldn’t maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to land on a rural road but clipped trees and impacted a ditch.