# NTSB CEN13LA198: Piper PA 46-350P, N71DH, Rogers, AR, March 11, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2013, 19:55 local (Mar 11, 2013, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Rogers, AR - Coordinates: 36.372222, -94.106941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3722&lon=-94.1069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 24, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86447 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86447/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86447 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA198 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control due to a sudden turbulence encounter while on final approach. Contributing to the accident was ice buildup on the wings’ leading edges. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/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 PA 46-350P, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on approach, ice accumulated on the wings’ leading edges. The pilot stated that the airplane was flying and handling well but that the air was turbulent during the descent. According to the pilot, when the airplane was about 75 to 100 feet above ground level, he encountered “severe turbulence” and a “downdraft,” which resulted in his inability to control the airplane's descent. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard on the runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The sudden loss of control was consistent with inadequate airspeed for the weather conditions and leading edge ice buildup on the wings, which led to an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2013, about 1955 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P airplane, N71DH, made a hard landing at the Rogers Municipal Airport (KROG), Rogers, Arkansas. The airline transport pilot and 3 passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Chattanooga, Tennessee at 1800 eastern daylight time and was destined for KROG. In a statement provided by the pilot, he reported about one quarter inch of ice buildup on the wings during the approach. He recalls that the automated weather report at KROG reported the wind from 280 at 12 knots and gusting 22 to 30 knots. He stated that the airplane was flying and handling well, but the air was turbulent during the descent. He broke out of the clouds about 800 feet above the ground and was using the rudder to point the nose of the airplane 20-30 degrees right of the runway heading. He then encountered severe turbulence and a downdraft about 75 to 100 feet above ground level (AGL) so he applied full power to stop the decent. When he realized the decent wasn’t going to stop, he tried to flare the airplane. The airplane landed hard on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At 1957, the aviation routine weather report for KROG reported wind from 290 degrees at 13 knots, gusting at 21 knots, 7 miles visibility, clouds overcast at 600 feet above ground level (AGL), temperature 0 degrees Celsius (C), dew point negative 1 degree C, and a barometric pressure of 29.89 inches of mercury. Pictures of the airplane following the accident revealed ice on the wings and leading edges. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71DH-2024-04-30), registration cancelled 2024-04-30, S/N 4636027, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 46-350P - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636027 - Airframe hours: 1986 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2012 - Departed: KCHA, Chattanooga, TN - Destination: KROG, Rogers, AR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KROG, Rogers Municipal Airport-Carte, runway 20, 6,011 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 3,964 total, 601 in this make and model, 3,853 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 13 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: ROG ## 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 20130310003359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130310003359A), Mar 10, 2013: Piper PA 46-350P, Rogers, AR, Destroyed. On March 10 2013 at approximately 8:00 pm, the pilot stated he was on ILS approach for rw 20 at Rogers, AR. Gusting winds and turbulence were encountered. The… ## Other investigations on N71DH (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 DEN06CA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA127), Sep 13, 2006: Piper PA-46T-350P (N71DH), Colo. Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors in this accident were the jet blast encounter, and the pilot's failure to initiate a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86447. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photograph 1: Ice on the right wing leading edge (item 3, .PDF, 925 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Ice%20on%20the%20right%20wing%20leading%20edge-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.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.