# Incident 20250711012759I: Piper PA-46-310P, Sturgis, MI, July 11, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 2025, 08:30 local time
- Place: Sturgis, MI
- Airport: Kirsch Municiple Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7980° N, 85.4186° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sturgis, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7980&lon=-85.4186&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9121X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9121X) (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 PA-46-310P
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250711012759I

## Narrative

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

THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON JULY 11, 2025, APPROXIMATELY 08:30 ESDT. THIS EVENT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL THE DISCOVERY BY THE FAA. I REPORTED THIS EVENT TO THE C-ROC ON 09/16/2025 UPON MY DISCOVERY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF A SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER/PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED KIRSH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KIRS) THAT’S WHEN HE RECEIVED A LANDING GEAR UNSAFE INDICATION UPON RETRACTING THE LANDING GEAR. HE THEN DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND LAND THE AIRCRAFT. WHEN HE PUT THE LANDING GEAR RETRACT LEVER IN THE EXTEND POSITION, HE CONFIRMED THE GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED WITH 3 GREEN INDICATORS. HE PERFORMED HIS LANDING CHECKLIST AND PROCEEDED TO LAND. HE LANDED ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AT FIRST. WHEN THE SPEED DROPPED, HE LOWERED THE NOSE. WHEN THE NOSE GEAR TOUCHED THE RUNWAY THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED DOWNWARD, AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY, AND THEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST WITH THE NOSE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED AND THE ENGINE COWLING RESTING ON THE RUNWAY ON RUNWAY 19. HE THEN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE AIRPORT MANAGER LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT AND SECURED THE NOSE GEAR THEN TOWED TO THE PILOT’S PRIVATE HANGAR. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER HAD NO IDEA THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING THIS EVENT TO THE NTSB.

I ARRIVED AT KIRSCH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KRIS) ON 09/18/2025 AT 1300 ESDT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED INSIDE A PRIVATE HANGAR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RESTING ON ALL 3-LANDING GEAR UPRIGHT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKS OR FIRE. UPON A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, I HAVE NOTED THAT MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED. ALL ENGINE COWLINGS WERE OFF. THE PROPELLER WAS NOT INSTALLED AND HAD BEEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR STATION. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE NOT INSTALLED AND LAYING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. ALL CONTROL SURFACES APPEARED TO HAVE CONTINUITY AND FREE TRAVEL IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE DAMAGE WAS CONCENTRATED TO THE NOSE LANDING GEAR DOORS, LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER COWLINGS, AND THE INTAKE AIR FILTER HOUSING BOX. PILOT STATED THAT THE PROPELLER DID STRIKE THE GROUND AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE ENGINE.

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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