# NTSB CEN26LA202: Piper PA-32R-300, N4556Q, Comanche, TX, May 22, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: May 22, 2026, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Comanche, TX · 31.923719, -98.595169 - Coordinates: 31.923719, -98.595169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9237&lon=-98.5952&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Lubbock - NTSB case key (mKey): 203075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA202 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203075/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA202 ## Preliminary report On May 22, 2026, about 1840 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N4556Q, was substantially damaged during an accident near Comanche, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The pilot reported that the airplane fuel system contained about 94 gallons of fuel before the flight and there were no issues with engine operation during a before takeoff engine runup. The pilot stated that the airplane was configured for takeoff with wing flaps at 25°, the fuel selector positioned to the left tank, and the auxiliary fuel pump turned on. The takeoff was conducted on runway 17. After an uneventful takeoff roll and liftoff, the pilot established a positive rate climb, retracted the landing gear, and retracted the wing flaps. The pilot was about to enter a left turn to west when the airplane had a sudden reduction in engine power. The pilot immediately turned left to enter a left traffic pattern for runway 17 as he verified that the engine throttle was full forward, the mixture control was full rich, the auxiliary fuel pump was on, and he selected the right fuel tank. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and eventually there was a total loss of engine power. The pilot conducted a forced landing in a field on a heading of north. The pilot was able to extend the landing gear and wing flaps before landing in the field, but the airplane struck a barbed-wire fence and descended a hill. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage during the accident. The airplane wreckage was recovered to a secure location where an examination will be conducted. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4556Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4556Q), registered now, S/N 32R-7780333 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780333 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 4439 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chief Aviation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 2026 - Departed: MKN, Comanche, TX - Destination: E35, Fabens, TX - Airport: MKN, Comanche County-City Airport, runway 17, 4,497 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KMKN - METAR: METAR KMKN 222335Z AUTO 14006KT CLR 30/20 A2981 RMK AO2 T02970195 PWINO= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260522004769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260522004769A), May 22, 2026: Piper PA-32R-300, Comanche, TX, Substantial damage. On may 22, 2026, at 1830 CDT, a Piper lance [privacy data omitted] aircraft bearing registration number [privacy data omitted], registered to a private owner,… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.