# NTSB DEN08CA051: Piper PA-32-301XTC, N819C, Taos, NM, January 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 17, 2008, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Taos, NM - Coordinates: 36.458057, -105.672225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4581&lon=-105.6722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 67399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67399/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive airspeed during the approach and loss of control during the landing. Contributing factors were the mountain turbulence and the snowbank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104604), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the approach, the airplane encountered "extreme mountain turbulence" and the pilot "kept his speed up." Shortly after touchdown, the airplane "windmilled" to the left. The pilot then aborted the landing and during initial climb, the airplane's main landing impacted a snow bank located at the end of the runway. The main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane remained airborne. The pilot then flew around the local area for a unspecified period of time and landed gear-up at a nearby airport. During the gear-up landing, the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted the snow-covered terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed the right aileron was bent and partially separated. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he departed McKinney (TKI), Texas, on a visual flight rules flight to Angel Fire (AXX), New Mexico. During the approach to AXX, the airplane encountered "extreme mountain turbulence" and the pilot "kept his speed up." Shortly after touchdown at AXX, the airplane "windmilled" to the left. The pilot then aborted the landing and during initial climb, the airplane's main landing impacted a snow bank located at the end of the runway. The main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane remained airborne. The pilot then flew around the local area for an unspecified period of time and landed gear-up at Taos, New Mexico. During the gear-up landing at Taos, the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted the snow covered terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed the right aileron was bent and partially separated. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N819C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N819C), registered now, S/N 3255049, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-301XTC - Registry model: [New Piper PA-32-301XTC](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-piper-pa-32-301xtc) (registry code 7104604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-ah1a) (registry code 42003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3255049 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mareechi.com LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TKI, MC KINNEY, TX - Destination: AXX, ANGEL FIRE, NM - Airport: SKX, Taos Muni, runway 22 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 350 total, 250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk ## 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 20080117009739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080117009739A), Jan 17, 2008: Piper PA32301XTC, Angel Fire, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1625 MST on January 24, 2008, the pilot of N819C, a Piper PA-32-301XTC, aborted the landing roll midway down runway 35 at Angel Fire… 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.