N134MGPiper PA-34-220T · 1981

On July 24, 2024, about 1555 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N134MG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Roy, Utah. The flight instructor was seriously injured and the pilot receiving instruction sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

According to the flight instructor they had departed from Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD), Ogden, Utah, for a local practice area to practice single engine maneuvers without incident. They returned to the airport, performed a practice instrument approach to runway 03, followed by a missed approach. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction then executed a and then executed a second practice instrument approach with a simulated left engine failure. At the final approach fix, they lowered the landing gear; however, the right main landing gear indicator did not show a that the landing gear was down and locked. They attempted to trouble shoot the right landing gear, which included swapping the light bulbs, cycling the gear, and using the emergency extension with no success.

They performed a low approach over runway 03, where the air traffic control tower controller reported that the landing gear appeared to be down. The flight instructor stated that the tower offered to call fire and rescue equipment to be in position near the runway in case the landing gear collapsed on landing. The flight instructor agreed and then circled to the east of the airport while they awaited the arrival of fire personnel.

After maneuvering over runway 03, the upwind was extended by an additional two miles before a left crosswind turn was made. During the crosswind turn, the student advanced the power to the left engine and the flight instructor secured the right engine to avoid damage to the propeller and engine if the right main landing gear collapsed upon landing.

The flight instructor reported that initially the airplane was able to maintain altitude and 92 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), which was best rate of climb for single engine operation (Vyse) with maximum power on the left engine. Once established on downwind, the “over-boost” light illuminated on the annunciator panel, consistent with the operating engine exceeding the manifold pressure limit of 40.5 inches of Hg. The pilot receiving instruction was instructed by the flight instructor to retard the throttle and then make incremental movements of the throttle in an effort to not over-boost the left engine. As the airplane passed mid-field for runway 03, the instructor began the steps to restart the right engine; however, due to the altitude and airspeed, they told the controller that that they were going to land immediately south of the runway. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and maneuvered to land on a road. During the landing process, the airplane struck multiple trees and impacted a road before it came to rest upright abut a tree in the front yard of a residence.

The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further investigation.