Piper PA-32-300 N2843T accident near Del Mar, California

Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a forced landing on an interstate highway and subsequent collision with vehicles.

NTSB analysis

The airplane had just received an annual inspection, and the pilot and the flight instructor were flying it back to its home base. The pilot did not have a current medical certificate, and the flight instructor was on board to act as pilot in command. On departure in a slow climb passing about 1,800 ft mean sea level, the engine began to surge and sounded like “the throttle was cycling between open and closed.” The airplane began to lose altitude. The flight instructor declared an emergency and turned toward a racetrack.

They flew a downwind for the racetrack but determined they could not safely land there. Therefore, they elected to land on an interstate highway. Spotting a gap between cars, the flight instructor made a forced landing on the interstate. During the landing sequence, the airplane struck several vehicles and came to rest angled toward the interstate median barrier.

A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR21LA326 for the full record.