# NTSB CEN22LA060: Piper PA-46-310P, N444DT, Cassville, MO, December 1, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 1, 2021, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Cassville, MO - Coordinates: 36.697642, -93.899508 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6976&lon=-93.8995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104360/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104360 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to reinstall the nose landing gear linkage prior to the flight which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-46-310P, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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 maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing following a local flight, the airplane oscillated left and right as he attempted to maintain directional control on the ground. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted in a ravine. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that before the flight he had reinstalled the nose landing gear steering arm but did not properly secure the steering linkage to the steering arm. Because he did not properly secure the steering linkage, the nose landing gear was not aligned with the runway during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N444DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444DT), registered now, S/N 4608008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4608008 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 5034 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO-550C-14B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nakatsu Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Nakatsu Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2021 - Departed: ASG, Springdale, AR - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 94K, Cassville Muni, runway 09/27, 3,599 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,594.7 total, 1,110 in this make and model, 1,551.7 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 6.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KHFJ, 13 nm away - METAR: KHFJ 012115Z AUTO 23008KT 10SM CLR 18/04 A3000 RMK AO2 ## 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 20211201020169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211201020169A), Dec 1, 2021: Piper PA-46-310P, Cassville, MO, Substantial damage. The investigation revealed that N444DT, a PA-46 had veered off the left side of runway 09 after landing. There were visible tire marks on the runway from the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104360. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008327&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.