ERA27LA042

On November 7, 2026, at 1119 eastern standard time, a Piper PA32R-301, N226DT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Easton, Maryland. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The accident flight was the last leg of an instrument flight rules currency flight with the passenger acting as a safety pilot and the final leg being operated under visual flight rules. The pilot described the flight as uneventful until the airplane was on short final approach to land on runway 33 at Easton Airport (ESN), Easton, Maryland. When the airplane was about 500 to 600 ft above the ground, the engine “sputtered” and lost all power. The pilot switched fuel tanks with no effect, and then switched back. Unable to reach the airport, the pilot made a forced landing in a farm field. The airplane struck a tree during the landing, resulting in substantial damage to the right side horizontal stabilizer. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.