Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Comanche, Texas, May 22, 2026
On May 22, 2026 at about 11:40 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA-32R-300, registered N4556Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Comanche, Texas (Comanche County-City Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2026 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Comanche, Texas · Comanche County-City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300, built 1977 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4556Q · registry record · serial 32R-7780333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,439 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: MKN Comanche TX at 11:40 pm
- Destination: E35 Fabens TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,497 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KMKN
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMKN 222335Z AUTO 14006KT CLR 30/20 A2981 RMK AO2 T02970195 PWINO=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA202.