CEN18LA383

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA46 · Santa Teresa, NM · August 31, 2018

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 31, 2018, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Santa Teresa, NM
Injuries
6 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N747DAPiper PA46
Defining event
Takeoff: Runway excursion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 3, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20180831016129A
Case key
98326

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to attempt to take off in an overweight airplane in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to climb, an aborted takeoff, and a subsequent runway excursion.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitudeEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationPiper PA 46-350P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 278 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: maximum weightAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededPiper PA 46-350P: 4 casesAll aircraft: 152 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot and five passengers were departing the airport on an international cross-country flight. The pilot attempted an intersection takeoff in high density altitude conditions over the airplane's maximum gross weight. The airplane would not become airborne, so the pilot back taxied and attempted to take off on the full length of another runway. The airplane lifted off but was not climbing, so the pilot lowered the nose and the airplane hit the runway hard. The airplane veered right and exited the runway surface, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation and that he attempted the takeoff in an overweight airplane at a high density altitude. Calculations showed that the airplane's maximum gross takeoff weight was exceeded by at least 300 lbs, and the density altitude was about 6,900 ft.

Factual narrative

On August 31, 2018, about 1700 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA46-350P airplane, N747DA, registered to a private individual, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from the Dona Ana International Jetport (DNA), Santa Teresa, New Mexico. All 6 occupants, the private pilot and 5 passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal cross country flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. The flight's intended destination was Chihuahua, Mexico. After refueling and loading the passengers and baggage, the pilot taxied to the intersection of taxiway Delta and runway 10 at DNA. With 10° of flaps and full throttle, the pilot began the takeoff on runway 10 from the intersection. The airplane did not lift off, so the pilot stopped the takeoff and back taxied to the end of the reciprocal runway (runway 28). The pilot reported that the wind was calm. With 20° of flaps and full throttle, the pilot started to takeoff, using the full length of runway 28. Approaching 60-70 knots, the airplane started to liftoff, but was not climbing. The pilot then lowered the nose toward the runway. The airplane hit the runway hard, veered to the right, and exited the runway. After the airplane came to a stop in the grass, all occupants exited. During the excursion, the left main landing gear collapsed. The top of the left wing was punctured and the right wing's leading edge was buckled and dented along the span of the front spar. The pilot reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Accident Report Form 6120 that he took off overweight and at a high density altitude. The pilot also indicated on the form that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. Data from the aircraft's weight and balance sheet (dated June 8, 2008), fuel logs, and estimated pilot/passenger weights were used to calculate the airplane's takeoff weight at the time of the accident. The calculations estimated the takeoff weight to be about 4,675 lbs., without baggage. Fixed Base Operator personnel reported that a large amount of baggage was loaded onto the airplane before takeoff; however, the weight of this baggage was not known. The maximum takeoff weight for the airplane was 4,358 lbs. the density altitude was approximately 6,900 ft.

Aircraft

Registration
N747DA
Reported as
Piper PA46 (350P)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4636445
Built
2008
Airframe hours
1,277
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 26, 2017
Departed
DNA · Santa Teresa, NM
Destination
Chihuahua
Airport
DNA · Dona Ana County Int Jetport, runway 28, 9,550 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
56
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 12, 2014
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
1,500 total · 700 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 75 °F
Altimeter
29.89 inHg
Observed at
DNA

Docket · 7

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.4 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.