# NTSB DEN06CA127: Piper PA-46T-350P, N71DH, Colo. Springs, CO, September 13, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2006, 15:24 local (21:24 UTC) - Place: Colo. Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.816112, -104.700836 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8161&lon=-104.7008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 64522 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64522/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors in this accident were the jet blast encounter, and the pilot's failure to initiate a go-around when he felt an unsafe condition existed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - propeller/jet blast encounter (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot had been cleared to land, and at that time the runway was vacant. While on short final, the control tower cleared a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 for takeoff. The pilot considered making a go-around, but decided against it because there were numerous airplanes following him. The pilot planned to touch down at a point prior to where the MD-80 rotated but encountered turbulence from the engines of the departing jet. The airplane pitched up and the airspeed disintegrated rapidly, causing it to land hard on its mains and bounce. The airplane bounced a second time and the pilot applied full power. The airplane impacted the runway a third time, causing the nose gear to collapse, and skidded to a stop on the runway. Further examination revealed the right wing upper skin was wrinkled. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2006, approximately 1524 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-46T-350P, N71DH, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it made a hard landing at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Springfield, Missouri, and was en route to Colorado Springs. According to the pilot's accident report, he had been cleared to land on runway 17R. At that time the runway was vacant. While on short final, the control tower cleared a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 for takeoff. "I was surprised that [the MD-80] did not do a rolling start and that he was not ordered to expedite for landing traffic," the pilot wrote. He considered making a go-around, but decided against it because there were numerous airplanes following him. "I thought [the landing] could be safely completed before the point [the MD-80] rotated. I unexpectedly encountered sever turbulence from the engines of the departing jet at approximately 10-15 feet above the normal touchdown. The aircraft pitched up and the airspeed disintegrated rapidly, causing the aircraft to land violently on the mains, and bouncing me high off the runway. The aircraft bounced a second time and I applied full power in an attempt to save it. I could not generate enough lift and the aircraft impacted the runway the third time causing the nose gear to collapse. The aircraft skidded to a stop on the runway." Further examination revealed the right wing upper skin was wrinkled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71DH-2024-04-30), registration cancelled 2024-04-30, S/N 4636027, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46T-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: 4636027 - Airframe hours: 841 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-35 560 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bonanza Aircraft Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006 - Departed: FSK, Fort Scott, KS - Destination: COS, Colo. Springs, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: COS, Colorado Springs Municipal, runway 17R, 11,021 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,748 total, 476 in this make and model, 1,638 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: COS ## 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 20060913020209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060913020209A), Sep 13, 2006: Piper PA46350P, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot claims he was cleared for visual the runway was vacant, it was also vacant when he was cleared to land. On short final he heard the tower clear a… ## Other investigations on N71DH (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN13LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA198), Mar 11, 2013: Piper PA 46-350P (N71DH), Rogers, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control due to a sudden turbulence encounter while on final approach. Contributing to the accident was ice buildup on the wings’ leading edges. 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.