# NTSB CEN18LA383: Piper PA46, N747DA, Santa Teresa, NM, August 31, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2018, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Santa Teresa, NM - Coordinates: 31.880556, -106.70333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8806&lon=-106.7033&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98326 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98326/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98326 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA383 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747DA-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N 4636445, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA46 (350P) - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104619) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-ae2a) (registry code 41999, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636445 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 1277 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20180831016129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180831016129A), Aug 31, 2018: Piper Aircraft Inc PA 46-350P, Santa Teresa, NM, Substantial damage. On August 31, 2018, at 1700 MST, a Piper, aircraft N747DA, registered to indel food products, inc., ran off the runway at Santa Teresa, NM during an aborted… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98326. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Fuel Logs from Santa Teresa FBO (item 2, .PDF, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Logs%20from%20Santa%20Teresa%20FBO-Master.PDF - Weight and Balance Data Sheet (item 3, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance%20Data%20Sheet%20-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record Weight and Balance Calculations (item 4, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Weight%20and%20Balance%20Calculations-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 364 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Photo Array 2 (item 6, .PDF, 4 photos, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480456&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%202-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record Pilot Information Reported via Telephone Conversation to NTSB IIC (item 7, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Information%20Reported%20%20via%20Telephone%20Conversation%20to%20NTSB%20IIC%20-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.