# Accident 20220913016759A: Piper PA-46-310P, Seligman, AZ, September 13, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 2022, 11:00 local time
- Place: Seligman, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4839° N, 112.7202° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4839&lon=-112.7202&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43605, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-46-310P (registry code 7104605, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P
- Reported engine: CONTINENTAL TSIO520BE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 30 total, 12 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22FA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA345) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220913016759A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, ABOUT 1100 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA46-310P AIRCRAFT,^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP ACCIDENT 14 MILES NORTHEAST OF SELIGMAN, ARIZONA. THE STUDENT PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY THE STUDENT PILOT AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT.

FLIGHT TRACK DATA REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM WICHITA VALLEY AIRPORT (F14), WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS EARLIAR THAT MORNING WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF HENDERSON EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (KHND), HENDERSON, NEVADA. THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED FOR FUEL AT DOUBLE EAGLE II AIRPORT (KAEG), ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KAEG AND TRAVELED WEST FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES BEFORE THE FLIGHT TRACK DATA ENDED NEAR AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS, HEAVY PRECIPITATION AND MODERATE TURBULENCE. NEAR THE END OF THE TRACK DATA, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A 270-DEGREE LEFT TURN, FOLLOW BY A STEEP DESCENDING RIGHT TURN. THE FLIGHT TRACK DATA ENDED NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT WAS IN COMMUNICATION WITH LOS ANGELES CENTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

WEATHER IN THE AREA DURING THE TIMEFRAME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED AS MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION. AN UNINVOLVED AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA REPORTED “SERIOUS MODERATE TURBULENCE.”

SECURITY VIDEO LOCATED NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE SHOWS HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT A DEBRIS FIELD WAS LOCATED ACROSS HIGH DESERT TERRAIN WITH SPARSELY SPACED JUNIPER TREES. THE DEBRIS FIELD WAS ABOUT 2 MILES LONG AND CONSISTED OF SECTIONS OF BOTH WINGS, AND EMPENNAGE. THE LEFT FLAP AND RUDDER HAVE NOT BEEN LOCATED.

THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS RELOCATED TO A SECURE FACILITY FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.

## 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 WPR22FA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA345), Sep 13, 2022: Piper PA46 (N43605), Seligman, AZ, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The student pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, exceedance of the airplane’s design limitations,…

## Other reports on N43605 (1)

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

- [Incident 19900828049519I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900828049519I), Aug 28, 1990: Piper PA46310P (N43605), Peoria, IL, Minor damage. Alternator failed. Precautionary landing. Ran off taxiway hitting prop. Found stator circuit open.

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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