# NTSB CEN13LA171: Piper PA46, N32CA, Grand Island, NE, February 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 13, 2013, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Island, NE - Coordinates: 40.967498, -98.309722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9675&lon=-98.3097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86271/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86271 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after engine start. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane began to roll forward about 1 minute after engine start and impacted a building. The pilot stated that, though the airplane slowed when he pumped the brakes several times, he could not stop it using both toe brakes. An employee of the fixed based operator who witnessed the accident stated that the airplane's propeller was operating "at high speed" as it moved forward into a grass area before impacting the building. The pilot reported that the engine was stopped before impact. Postaccident examination of the airplane braking system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Available evidence suggests that the pilot did not reduce engine power and effectively apply the brakes in sufficient time to stop the airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 13, 2013, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA46-500TP, N32CA, rolled forward and struck a building after the engine was started. The airplane sustained substantial damage to a wing. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to Croft Aviation LLC and was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was destined to Centennial Airport, Denver, Colorado. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.A fixed base operator (FBO) employee stated that he was standing in front of the airplane waiting for it to start. The airplane started and about a minute later, it began to move forward. As the airplane was moving forward, the employee signaled the pilot to move straight ahead. After the airplane moved about 13 feet, the employee signaled the pilot to turn right. To the employee's "shock," the airplane continued forward and into a grass area with the propeller at "high speed." The employee ran and turned around to see the airplane impact a rock pier at a building. The propeller flung pieces of stone. The left wing was "pouring" out fuel. The pilot stated that the airplane was on the ramp facing a building. Upon engine start, the airplane moved forward with pressure on both toe brakes. The brakes were pumped several times before they began to slow the airplane but did not stop the airplane before it impacted building. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that he was able to stop the airplane and a tow vehicle while the airplane was being towed. Examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32CA), registered now, S/N 4697216, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA46 (500TP) - Registry model: [Piper PA46-500TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa46-500tp) (registry code 7104622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4697216 - Airframe hours: 1332 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Croft Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2013 - Departed: GRI, Grand Island, NE - Destination: Denver, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: GRI, Central Nebraska Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,931 total, 169 in this make and model, 1,801 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: GRI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130213019619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130213019619A), Feb 13, 2013: Piper PA46-500TP, Grand Island, NE, Substantial damage. N32CA was preparing to depart the ramp at Grand Island Regional Airport after a refueling stop on its route from mdw to bjc. The pilot was performing the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86271. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 646 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 517 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.