# NTSB CEN15CA188: Piper PA 46-350P, N427AB, Akron, OH, February 12, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 12, 2015, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Akron, OH
- Coordinates: 41.037498, -81.466667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0375&lon=-81.4667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration; CLE FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90976/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90976
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA188

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: 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-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane veered off the left side of the runway during landing with a left gusting crosswind. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane was 17 knots. The pilot stated that he had applied right rudder and left aileron control inputs for the landing. The airplane left main landing gear touched down first and when the right main landing gear contacted the runway, a gust of wind lifted the left wing, resulting in a loss of directional control. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and into a grass area adjacent to the runway where the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The airplane veered off the left side of the runway during landing with a left gusting crosswind. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane was 17 knots. The pilot stated that he had applied right rudder and left aileron control inputs for the landing. The airplane left main landing gear touched down first and when the right main landing gear contacted the runway, a gust of wind lifted the left wing, resulting in a loss of directional control. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and into a grass area adjacent to the runway where the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N427AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N427AB), registered now, S/N 4636324 (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: 4636324
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 1848
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: SSP Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 2015
- Departed: EYE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Destination: AKR, Akron, OH
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: AKR, Akron Fulton Intl, runway 07, 6,336 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 13, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700 total, 243 in this make and model, 575 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 12 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: AKR

## 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 20150212004179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150212004179A), Feb 12, 2015: Piper PA 46-350P, Akron, OH, Substantial damage. Winds were 340 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots with 10 visibility, overcast skies at 3, 200 feet. Temp was -12C dew point -18C. Runway conditions were…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90976. 705 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Airplane Information (item 2, .PDF, 435 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426011&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Information-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.

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