# NTSB DEN03LA152: Piper PA-46-500TP, N211EZ, Santa Fe, NM, June 13, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2003, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Fe, NM
- Coordinates: 35.616943, -106.089164
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6169&lon=-106.0892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57943
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57943/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA152

## Probable cause

the inadvertent encounter with turbulence associated with thunderstorms. A contributing factor was the icing conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (cause)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot said he was at FL290 and was circumnavigating isolated thunderstorms. Flight Watch informed him of a SIGMET for thunderstorms forming between Colorado and New Mexico. At the suggestion of Flight Watch, the pilot turned toward an alternate airport, but he had to continually change heading due to rapidly developing cells. He did not have enough fuel to fly to this alternate, so he elected to divert to another alternate airport. All anti-ice equipment was turned on.  During the descent through the clouds, mixed icing started to rapidly accumulate on the aircraft. As the pilot initiated a 180-degree turn to leave the icing conditions, the plane encountered severe downdrafts. The pilot declared an emergency and landed at his alternate airport in visual meteorological conditions without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed the inboard panels of both bonded wings were wrinkled, necessitating the replacement of the entire wing assembly.

## Factual narrative

On June 13, 2003, approximately 1130 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-46-500TP, N211EZ, was substantially damaged when it encountered turbulence during descent to Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Novato, California, approximately 0830 Pacific daylight time, and was en route to Gunnison, Colorado.

Unable to determine the extent of damage, the accident was not reported either by the pilot, the airframe manufacturer, or the local FAA Flight Standards District Office. NTSB learned of this accident in a conversation with a local repair facility that was corroborated by the airplane insurance company.

According to the pilot, he was at FL290 and was circumnavigating isolated thunderstorms. Flight Watch informed him of a SIGMET for thunderstorms forming between Colorado and New Mexico. At the suggestion of Flight Watch, the pilot turned toward Tucumcari, New Mexico, but he had to continually change heading due to rapidly developing cells. He did not have enough fuel to fly to Tucumcari, so he pilot elected to divert to Santa Fe, New Mexico. All anti-ice equipment was turned on.  During the descent through the clouds, mixed icing started to rapidly accumulate on the aircraft. As the pilot initiated a 180-degree turn to leave the icing conditions, the plane encountered severe downdrafts. The pilot declared an emergency and landed at Santa Fe in visual meteorological conditions without further incident.

Postaccident examination revealed the inboard panels of both bonded wings were wrinkled, necessitating the replacement of the entire wing assembly.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N211EZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-500TP
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4697117
- Airframe hours: 289
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 500 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aaron Singer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2003, 75 hours before
- Departed: DVO, Novato, CA
- Destination: GUC, Gunnison, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SAF, Santa Fe Municipal Airport, runway 020, 8,342 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 756 total, 269 in this make and model, 722 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: SAF

## 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 20030613025459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030613025459A), Jun 13, 2003: Piper PA46500TP, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) While enroute to gunnison Colorado, at FL 290, pilot (owner/operator) was circumnavigating around cumulonimbus clouds. The weather deteriorated…

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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