# NTSB ERA20LA230: Piper PA46, N117PR, Williston, FL, June 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 15, 2020, 13:08 local (17:08 UTC) - Place: Williston, FL - Coordinates: 29.355556, -82.471946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3556&lon=-82.4719&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Piper - NTSB case key (mKey): 101497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101497/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101497 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA230 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-600TP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104650), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-600TP, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7104650), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-600TP, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7104650), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-600TP, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104650), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-600TP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104650), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot received his private pilot certificate about 2 ½ months before the accident. The pilot then transitioned to the accident airplane, receiving training from an instructor who had completed the factory-authorized training. At the time of the accident, the pilot had a total flight experience of 99 hours, of which 54 hours were in the accident airplane; however, the accident flight was the pilot’s first flight in the accident airplane without a flight instructor. While landing at the airport after a cross-country flight, the airplane departed the right side of the runway onto a grassy area, and the nose landing gear collapsed. Immediately after the accident, the pilot reported to an off-duty law enforcement officer that a gust of wind “got him” and also reported to police officers that a “strong gust of wind” caused the airplane to veer off the runway. In his subsequent written statement, he stated that the nosewheel steering system was unresponsive and contained a manufacturing defect. Although the pilot claimed that there was an issue with the nosewheel steering system, postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Flight control continuity was established for all flight controls, and nosewheel steering continuity was confirmed. The nose landing gear skid marks on the runway traveled left, then right before exiting the runway. The recorded wind at the airport about 7 minutes after the accident was a left quartering headwind at 11 knots. Given the pilot’s statements regarding the gust of wind, the postaccident examination, and the pilot’s limited experience in the accident airplane, it is likely that the pilot failed to control the airplane while landing in crosswind conditions. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2020, about 1308 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-46-600TP, N117PR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Williston, Florida. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot’s written statement received about 1 month after the accident, he departed Abilene, Texas, about 0900 destined for Williston Municipal Airport (X60), Williston, Florida. The airplane approached runway 5 at X60, and the main landing gear touched down slightly left of the runway centerline; the airplane was tracking straight down the runway. However, when the nosewheel touched down, the airplane made an “immediate hard right turn.” He stated that he applied left rudder but that the nosewheel steering was unresponsive, and the airplane would not turn to the left. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway onto a grassy area, where the nose landing gear collapsed before the airplane came to a stop. The pilot further reported that the nosewheel steering system contained a manufacturing defect and cited another PA-46-600TP accident that occurred on July 3, 2020 (NTSB Accident Number ERA20LA237). The airport supervisor at X60 spoke to the pilot after the accident and stated that the pilot reported that the nosewheel was loose during landing, he overcorrected, and the airplane travelled off the side of the runway. The supervisor added that the wind was gusting to 16 knots but that he did not believe it was a factor in the accident. An off-duty officer, who was also a pilot, from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office was at the airport at the time of the accident. The officer did not witness the approach but saw the airplane veer right during rollout and travel off the right side of the runway. He estimated the wind to be about 10 knots at the time. The officer went to the airplane to confirm that the two occupants were not injured and that no fire hazard existed. The pilot reported to the officer that a gust of wind “got him” and that he “gave it a little power at the end.” The officer notified the Williston Police Department. Officers from the Williston Police Department responded to the scene and spoke with the pilot. According to the police report, the pilot stated “…a strong gust of wind hit his craft broadside, on the port side of the craft, which lifted so significantly that it lost its last wheel traction on the pavement, which caused the plane to veer off the runway…” The pilot reported a total flight experience of 99 hours, of which 54 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He obtained his private pilot certificate in a Cessna 172 about 2 ½ months before the accident. According to the pilot’s electronic logbook, he received flight instruction in the accident airplane after receiving his private pilot certificate. The accident flight was the pilot’s first flight in the airplane withouta flight instructor. According to a representative of the dealership that sold the accident airplane, at the time of purchase, the pilot did not meet the flight experience requirements for the insurance company to provide coverage for the pilot to use the airplane and did not attend factory-authorized training; however, his flight instructor met the requirements and completed the factory-authorized training. The flight instructor then trained the pilot. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear had separated, and the propeller blades had fractured. Damage was observed to the nose landing gear mounting area and engine mount bracket. Flight control continuity was established for all flight controls, and steering control continuity was established from the rudder pedals to the steering arm. The steering horn remained intact and attached to the separated nose landing gear. The only anomaly noted during the examination was that the front tire psi was 73.5 psi rather than 88 psi. Skid marks on the runway showed that the nosewheel skid mark initially traveled left, then right, then extreme right (about 30°). The left main wheel and nosewheel skid marks were most prominent on the runway, leading to the right side and into the grass. In addition, GPS data downloaded from the airplane’s Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck were consistent with the nose landing gear skid marks initially traveling left, then right, before exiting the runway. The recorded wind at X60 at 1315 was from 360° at 11 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N117PR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N117PR), registered now, S/N 4698117, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA46 (600TP) - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-600TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-600tp) (registry code 7104650) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-42a) (registry code 52268, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4698117 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-42A 600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 23, 2020, 46 hours before - Departed: ABI, Abiline, TX - Destination: X60, Williston, FL - Airport: X60, Williston Municipal Airport, runway 5, 6,669 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 99 total, 54 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: X60 ## 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 20200615012539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200615012539A), Jun 15, 2020: Piper PA-46-600TP, Williston, FL, Substantial damage. On 15-June-2020, N117PR, a 2019 Piper PA-46-600TP, s/n 4698117 landed on rwy 05 at X60 (Williston Municipal). After touchdown, the aircraft departed the runway… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101497. 24.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10652476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summaries (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11576846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Rel.pdf - Williston police department offense incident report excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10657652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Report%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from pilot's electronic logbook (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10657248&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Electronic%20Log%20Excepts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10643336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 381 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10654566&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Nvm data from garmin G3000 (item 7, XLSX, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11494367&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=NVM%20Data-Rel.xlsx - Additional nvm data (item 8, ZIP, 10.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12051959&FileExtension=zip&FileName=DATA-Rel.zip - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 9, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10643346&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10642556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.