# NTSB DEN99LA026: Piper PA-46-350P, N9255B, Granby, CO, December 15, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1998, 16:38 local (23:38 UTC)
- Place: Granby, CO
- Coordinates: 40.080928, -105.929481 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0809&lon=-105.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45591
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45591/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA026

## Probable cause

The in-flight encounter with clear air turbulence during descent.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - wing,spar - bent
  - horizontal stabilizer - bent
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane was descending (15,700 feet) VMC over the Rocky Mountains when the airplane gained 500 feet in 5 to 6 seconds.  The pilot said that the airplane rolled 90 degrees right, and pitched up 45 degrees.  Both wings and the horizontal stabilizer of the airplane were subsequently replaced.

## Factual narrative

On December 15, 1998, at 1638 mountain standard time, a Piper Malibu PA-46-350P, N9255B, sustained substantial damage during an encounter with turbulence during descent near Granby, Colorado.  The airline transport rated pilot and his three passengers were not injured.  The airplane was being operated by 101 Jet Aviation, Inc., of Englewood, Colorado, under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country flight which originated from Idaho Falls, Idaho, approximately 1 hour 24 minutes before the accident.  An IFR flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, "the flight had been uneventful to that point."  He said that "he felt the nose tuck a little and then wham--they hit severe/extreme turbulence."  The 5 second event rolled the airplane into a 90 degree right bank, and a pitch up attitude of 45 degrees.  The pilot reported that his airspeed indicator was reading 140 knots, and his altitude was 15,700 feet at the time of the event.  He calculated his maneuvering speed to be approximately 120 knots.

Radar data indicated that the airplane gained 500 feet of altitude in 5 to 6 seconds.  Additionally, the radar ground tract indicated that the airplane was over Corona Pass when the event happened.

Both wings and horizontal stabilizer had to be replaced.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9255B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9255B), registered now, S/N 4622197, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: 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 IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4622197
- Airframe hours: 516
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: R.M. Diversified, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 1998, 425 hours before
- Departed: IDA, IDAHO FALLS, ID
- Destination: APA, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,200 total, 600 in this make and model, 6,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 25 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 19981215044299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981215044299A), Dec 15, 1998: Piper PA46350P, Granby, CO, Substantial damage. (.19)On December 15, 1998, approximately 1639 mountain standard time, a Piper malibu PA-46-350P, N9255B sustained substantial damage during an encounter with…

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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