Piper PA-32R-300 N4556Q accident near Comanche, Texas

Preliminary information

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.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA202 for the full record.