# NTSB CEN26LA030: Piper PA-46-310P, N46CR, El Paso, TX, October 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: October 26, 2025, 09:18 local (15:18 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.821476, -106.09807
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8215&lon=-106.0981&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA, Continental Aerospace Technologies
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201923
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA030
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201923/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA030

## Preliminary report

On October 26, 2025, about 918 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA46-310P, N46CR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near El Paso, Texas. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported he was climbing to his enroute cruise altitude when the engine made a loud bang, followed by decreasing temperature readings and a low oil pressure warning. The pilot declared an emergency, requested vectors to the nearest airport, and performed the engine failure emergency checklist. The pilot assessed different landing options before deciding on a north-south dirt road. The airplane touched down about 500 feet before a steep incline in the road. The pilot applied heavy braking until he spotted a 3 foot hole in the road, at which time he released the brakes and applied full aft elevator. All three landing gear separated from the airplane as the airplane went into and past the hole in the road. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. Once the airplane came to rest, the pilot shut down the electrical systems and began evacuation of the occupants through the emergency exit. The main door had become blocked by a tree and some brush. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed a hole in the top of the crankcase by the number two cylinder. The magneto above the hole was dislodged from its mounting point. Clean looking oil was present on the dipstick. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46CR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46CR), registered now, S/N 46-8608021, built 1986 (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: 46-8608021
- Year built: 1986
- Airframe hours: 5109
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2025
- Departed: LRU, Las Cruces International Airport, NM
- Destination: BFZ, Albertville, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ELP, El Paso Intl
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Temperature: 59 °F
- Observed at: KELP, 10.7 nm away

## 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 20251026020729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251026020729A), Oct 26, 2025: Piper PA-46-310P, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. On 10/26/2025 a Piper malibu N46CR departed the las cruces airport (klru) at 0933 MDT with an ATP rated pilot and two passengers enroute to albertville Alabama…

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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