# Incident 20260208007339I: Piper PA-46-310P, Elkhart, IN, February 8, 2026

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 2026, 16:15 local time
- Place: Elkhart, IN
- Airport: Elkart Munciple
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.6952° N, 85.9554° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elkhart, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6952&lon=-85.9554&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9080X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9080X) (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
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,535 total, 349 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260208007339I

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 08, 2026, AT 1641 LOCAL TIME, A PIPER PA-46-310P AIRCRAFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, REGISTERED TO NON-TS TRAVEL LLC. AND FLOWN BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE FOLLOWING A LANDING TO THE EAST OF AND ALONGSIDE RUNWAY 18/36, ELKHART MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, ELKHART, INDIANA. VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT WERE REPORTED.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS ENROUTE FROM BLANE MN.TO ELKHART IN. AS A FINAL DESTINATION. THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED RUNWAY 18/36 AT ELKHART AS HIS PREFERRED RUNWAY DUE TO IT SHORT AFTER LANDING TAXI. TOWER HAD GIVEN THE CONDITIONS OF THE REQUESTED RUNWAY AS MOSTLY SNOW COVERED AND COMPACTED AND RUNWAY 09/27 AS MAINLY CLEAR. TOWER PERSONNEL SUGGESTED THE USE OF RUNWAY 9/27. THE PILOT STILL REQUESTED RUNWAY 18/36. THE PILOT LANDED HIS AIRCRAFT BETWEEN TWO BERMS WHICH HE THOUGHT WERE THE EDGES OF THE RUNWAY.

THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, HE COULD SEE LIGHTS ON ONE SIDE WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. ONCE THE MAIN GEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE CRUSTY SNOW PACK THE AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR CAUGHT THE SNOW AND FOLDED BACK DROPPING THE NOSE INTO THE SNOW ONTO THE GROUND.

INVESTIGATION FOUND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE NOSE AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT. NO DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE APPEAR UNDAMAGED.

WEATHER REPORTED: KEKM 082135Z AUTO 10009KT 10SM CLR M05/M11 A3034 RMK AO2 T10541113

## Other reports on N9080X (3)

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

- [Incident 20000922031969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000922031969I), Sep 22, 2000: Piper PA46310P (N9080X), Charlotte, NC. (-23)Pilot's inability to maintain assigned altitude was due to a turbo charger malfuction. Pilot provided this office with acceptable documentation attesting…
- [Incident 19900919048739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900919048739I), Sep 19, 1990: Piper PA46310P (N9080X), St Petersburg-C, FL, Minor damage. Pilot stated aircraft veered on touchdown. Skidded off runway breaking all gears.
- [Incident 19870124014329I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870124014329I), Jan 24, 1987: Piper PA46310P (N9080X), Westinster, MD, Minor damage. Aircraft drifted after takeoff, struck snowbank along runway side.

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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