20251116020899A

On November 16, 2025 at approximately 08:45 eastern standard time, a Piper saratoga PA-32R-301T, sustained substantial damage after a forced off-airport landing, near Williamson Georgia. The off-airport landing was due to a loss of engine power. The airplane was piloted by a commercial pilot with asel and amel category/class ratings, an instrument airplane rating, and flight airplane single engine and instrument instructor certificates. The pilot was the sole occupant of the airplane and sustained minor injuries during the event. The aircraft was associated with a FAR part 135 air carrier. The flight was being operated under FAR part 91, enroute in to pick up passengers. The flight was on an IFR flight plan in visual meterological conditions. The pilot stated that approximately 10 minutes after departing atlanta regional airport-falcon field (kffc) the engine started surging, the turbo inlet temperature was high, and all other gauges were reading normal. The pilot stated he notified ATC and started a diversion back to kffc while attempting to trouble shoot the engine problem. The pilot stated the engine started slowly losing power. The pilot declared an emergency and initially attempted to maneuver the airplane for an emergency landing on a nearby grass runway but elected to use a closer field for the emergency landing due to altitude loss. The pilot made a left turn during the approach to the selected field. During this turn, at an altitude of approximately 40 feet AGL, the left wing impacted a single power line, causing the airplane to yaw to the left. Damage to the airplane and ground markings were consistent with ground contact in a left bank with a heading left of the airplanes flight path. The airplane came to rest approximately 75 yards from the point of initial ground contact, in an upright condition, with the fuselage on the ground, and a heading approximately 90 degrees left of the flight path. During impact, the right main gear collapsed, the left main gear hyper-extended outboard, and the nose gear sheared off and came to rest approximately 30 yards beyond the aircraft. The right side of the fuselage sustained substantial crumple damage as a result of the roll moment created by the left wing impacting the ground. The fuel tanks were intact and the fuel level was consist with being topped-off prior to departing kffc. The engine oil quick drain was damaged during the impact. There was very little engine oil noted on the dip stick, and a small amount of engine oil noted on the ground. The fuel fitting connecting the fuel line assembly to the fuel divider was discovered to be loose and easily moved by touch. The wreckage was removed the following day and taken to an aircraft salvage facility in griffin, Georgia. The NTSB conducted an engine run at the griffin, GA facility on December 16th 2025. The notes from this engine run included: big fuel leak in fuel distribution, connection was finger tight. Tightened connection, engine ran perfectly through multiple rpm’s.