Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crash, Jul 12, 1978, Men...
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident on July 12, 1978 near Mena Arkansas, United States with no fatalities. Cause: Engine failure for undetermined...
- Date: July 12, 1978
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
- Location: Mena Arkansas, United States
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Engine failure for undetermined reasons during initial climb, followed by the pilot misjudging altitude and clearance on the return to the airport.
A Piper Navajo Chieftain on a local test flight from Mena, Arkansas lost an engine during initial climb. The pilot tried to return to the airport, misjudged altitude and clearance, and struck trees near the airport. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.