At 20:34 mountain time, a Piper PA-28R-180 was destroyed during a forced landing two miles south of Albuquerque International Sunport. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The airplane took off from runway 21 and, as it climbed to 150 to 200 feet, the engine lurched and began sputtering. The pilot reported his situation to the control tower and he was cleared to land on any runway. As he turned around, the right wing struck a power line and was torn off, and the airplane crashed on a mesa. Inspection revealed the No. 1 cylinder head had blown off at the barrel.
May 31, Albuquerque, N.M. / Piper Arrow
At 20:34 mountain time, a Piper PA-28R-180 was destroyed during a forced landing two miles south of Albuquerque International Sunport. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The airplane took off from runway 21 and, as it climbed to 150 to 200 feet, the engine lurched and began sputtering. The pilot reported his situation to the control tower and he was cleared to land on any runway. As he turned around, the right wing struck a power line and was torn off, and the airplane crashed on a mesa. Inspection revealed the No. 1 cylinder head had blown off at the barrel....
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-28R-180 was destroyed during a forced landing attempt near Albuquerque International Sunport, resulting in minor pilot injuries.
- Shortly after takeoff, the engine began sputtering at 150-200 feet due to a blown No. 1 cylinder head.
- While attempting to return to the airport, the aircraft struck a power line, tearing off the right wing before crashing.
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