December 20, Macon, Ga. / Piper Cherokee Six

At 1957 eastern time, a Piper PA-32-300 crashed after losing engine power near Macon. The pilot and three passengers were killed, and one passenger suffered minor injuries. The pilot was on an IFR flight plan when he reported to controllers that he had smoke in the cockpit. He was given radar vectors to the nearest airport but reported he had lost engine power and could not make it to the airport. The controller told him of a nearby highway and the pilot said he was looking for it. The airplane struck trees on the way down.