# NTSB DEN00LA120: New Piper PA-46-350P, N9246D, Spanish Fork, UT, June 26, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 2000, 22:25 local (Jun 26, 2000, 04:25 UTC)
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Coordinates: 40.019351, -111.550788 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0194&lon=-111.5508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49513
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49513/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA120

## Probable cause

Failure by the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during initial climb following takeoff.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - fence post
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The pilot was practicing a soft field takeoff in preparation for his commercial certificate examination.  During initial climb following lift off, the airplane drifted left of the runway and struck a fence post followed by collision with the ground.

## Factual narrative

On June 25, 2000, at 2225 mountain daylight time, a New Piper PA-46-350P, N9246D, sustained substantial damage when it struck a fence and the ground during initial climb following takeoff at Spanish Fork, Utah.  The private pilot sole occupant was not injured.  The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local training flight which departed Spanish Fork at 2100.

According to information provided by the pilot, he was practicing a soft field takeoff in preparation for his commercial pilot exam, and during initial climb following takeoff, the aircraft drifted left of the runway, settled, and a wing struck a fence post followed by impact with the ground off the east side of the runway.

The two impacts caused damage to the wings, fuselage, engine, propeller, landing gear, and empennage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9246D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9246D-2013-07-11), registration cancelled 2013-07-11, S/N 4622165, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NEW 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: 4622165
- Airframe hours: 496
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Stephen E. Howcroft
- Registered owner: S.E.H. Aviation Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2000, 69 hours before
- Departed: U77
- Airport: V77, Spanish Fork, runway 12, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 881 total, 289 in this make and model, 791 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVU, 30 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 20000625006929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000625006929A), Jun 25, 2000: Piper PA46350P, Spanish Fork, UT, No damage. (-23) The pilot states he was working on his commercial license and completing his last night solo, when he decided to practice a night soft field take off and…

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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