# Accident 20101123052659A: Piper PA 46-350P, Destin, FL, November 23, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 2010, 19:30 local time
- Place: Destin, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.4194° N, 86.4806° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4194&lon=-86.4806&mi=10
- Aircraft: N548C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N548C-2016-10-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA 46-350P (registry code 7104620, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 46-350P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 407 total, 34 in this make and model, 62 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101123052659A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ABOUT 1930 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-46-350P, N548C, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED THE WATER DURING AN APPROACH TO THE DESTIN/FT.WALTON BEACH AIRPORT (DTS) DESTIN, FLORIDA. THE AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED LAKE FRONT AIRPORT (NEW), NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. AIRPORT RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE (DTS) AIRPORT AND RECEIVED 68.6 GALLONS OF 100LL AVIATION FUEL. AT 1300, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FOR (NEW) WITH ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, PICKED UP THE OTHER PASSENGER, AND WAS RETURNING TO (DTS) AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.AIRCRAFT DEPARTED (NEW) ABOUT 1620. ACCORDING TO U.S. AIR FORCE EGLIN RADAR CONTROL FACILITY, AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR THE RNAV/GPS APPROCH TO (DTS).  WHILE ON APPROCH TO (DTS) AT APPROXIMATELY 200 MSL, RADAR CONTACT WENT INTO COAST MODE, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT. A SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION WAS INITATED AND AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE WATERS OF CHOCTAWACHEE BAY, ABOUT 1,500 FEET FROM SHORE. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS TRANSPORTED TO U.S. COAST GUARD STATION DESTIN FOR EXAMINATION.  THE 1953 RECORDED WEATHER OBSERVATION AT (DTS), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE TO THE SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT LOCATION, INCLUDED WIND FROM 140 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 1/4 MILE DUE TO FOG, VERTICAL VISIBILITY OF 100 FEET, TEMPERATURE 19 DEGREES C, DEW POINT 19 DEGREES C; ALTIMETER 30.11 INCHES OF MERCURY.

## 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 ERA11FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA070), Nov 24, 2010: Piper PA 46-350P (N548C), Destin, FL, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: Controlled flight into water due to the pilot's improper descent below the published minimum descent altitude.

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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