# Accident 20040223002899A: Piper PA46310P, Arlington, AL, February 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2004, 08:49 local time
- Place: Arlington, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0672° N, 87.6128° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0672&lon=-87.6128&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9103Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9103Z-2006-08-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-46-310P (registry code 7104605, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA46310P
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520BE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA077) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040223002899A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2004 AT 8:49 CST N9103Z, A PIPER PA-46-310P ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FROM PANAMA CITY, FL (PFN) TO TULSA, OK (RVS), BROKE UP IN-FLIGHT NEAR ARLINGTON, ALABAMA. REVIEW OF THE RADAR DATA REVEALED THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 24,000 FEET, HEADING NORTHWEST AT 08:46:54. AT 08:47:58, THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 9,600 FEET. THE LAST BEACON RETURN WAS AT 08:48:44. THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADING SOUTHEAST AT 3,100 FEET. THE FIRST OBSERVED WRECKAGE CONSISTED OF THE FORWARD FUSELAGE SECTION SEPARATED APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET AFT OF THE AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENT PANEL AND MINUS THE RIGHT WING SECTION OUTBOARD OF THE LANDING GEAR. THE LEFT WING WAS ATTACHED MINUS THE LEFT AILERON. THE ENGINE AND PROPELLER WERE ATTACHED. PROPELLER BLADE STRIKES WERE EVIDENCED APPROX. 18" FROM GROUND LEVEL ON A TREE IN FRONT OF THE WRECKAGE. PAINT TRANSFER MARKS FROM DEPARTED RIGHT WING WERE NOTED ON TOP OF FUSELAGE AND EXTENDED AFT TO SEPARATION. THE SECOND OBSERVED WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED A HALF A MILE FROM THE FIRST AND CONSISTED OF THE REMAINING FUSELAGE SECTION AND EMPENNAGE, MINUS THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY. PAINT TRANSFER MARKS WERE NOTED AT THE SEPARATION LINE OF THE FUSELAGE AND EXTENDED DIAGONALLY TO THE AFT EXIT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL04FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA077), Feb 23, 2004: Piper PA-46-310P (N9103Z), Arlington, AL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots inadequate in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain aircraft control, resulting in an in-flight encounter with a thunderstorm and exceeding the design limits of the aircraft.

## Other reports on N9103Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19890325011919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890325011919I), Mar 25, 1989: Piper PA46310P (N9103Z), Bloomington-Nor, IL, Minor damage. Large bird struck the right wing during landing approach with landing light on. Damage to leading edge and radar.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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