# NTSB ERA22LA079: Piper PA46, N172MA, Cornelia, GA, November 29, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 29, 2021, 14:47 local (19:47 UTC)
- Place: Cornelia, GA
- Coordinates: 34.499852, -83.556665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4999&lon=-83.5567&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO, Piper Aircraft
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104333/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104333
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA079

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.

## 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: [New Piper PA-46-500TP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104606), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [New Piper PA-46-500TP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7104606), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [New Piper PA-46-500TP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7104606), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [New Piper PA-46-500TP, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7104606), [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: [New Piper PA-46-500TP, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104606), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [New Piper PA-46-500TP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104606), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the single-engine turboprop airplane stated that he flew a straight-in visual approach to the 5,500 ft-long asphalt runway. He added that the airplane was on a correct glidepath and correct airspeed of 120 knots on short final approach. The main landing gear touched down first during the landing, followed by the nose landing gear. As soon as the nosewheel touched down, the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder input, but the airplane pulled again to the left and the pilot again applied right rudder. The pilot relaxed right rudder pressure a second time and the airplane again pulled aggressively to the left. He set the throttle to beta, applied both brakes, and right rudder, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway about halfway down the runway. The wind was recorded as calm at the time of the accident. The runway had a displaced threshold of 1,392 ft; skid marks on the runway (consisting of the nose gear tire and right main gear tire) indicated that the airplane touched down about halfway down the remaining 4,108 ft of the runway. The lack of skid marks for the left main landing gear tire was consistent with the airplane touching down in a left crab angle. As the skid marks neared the left edge of the runway, a skid mark corresponding to the left main landing gear tire became visible, and all three tire marks were visible in the grass off the left side of the runway. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Given all available information, it is likely that the airplane was in a crab to the left when it touched down, which resulted in the subsequent loss of directional control and runway excursion.

## Factual narrative

On November 29, 2021, about 1447 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46-500TP, N172MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cornelia, Georgia. The airline transport pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he performed a straight-in visual approach to runway 6, a 5,500 ft-long, 100 ft-wide, asphalt runway at Habersham County Airport (AJR), Cornelia, Georgia. He added that the airplane was on a correct glidepath and correct airspeed of 120 knots on short final approach. The main landing gear touched down first, followed by the nose landing gear. As soon as the nosewheel touched down, the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot initially corrected with right rudder input, but the airplane pulled again to the left and the pilot again put in right rudder deflection. The pilot relaxed right rudder pressure a second time and then the airplane pulled very aggressively to the left. He set the throttle to beta, applied both brakes, and right rudder, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway about halfway down the runway. The airplane traveled into a ditch and came to rest upright in a grass area next to the runway. Although runway 6 was 5,500 ft long, it had a displaced threshold of 1,392 ft. Review of skid marks revealed that the airplane touched down about halfway down the remaining 4,108-ft runway. The skid marks consisted of nose gear tire and right main gear tire, but no left main gear tire, consistent with touchdown in a left crab angle. As the skid marks neared the left edge of the runway, the left skid mark became visible, and all three tire marks were visible in the grass off the left side of the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a representative from the airframe manufacturer revealed that the left wing had separated from the airframe during impact with the ditch. Steering control continuity was confirmed from the rudder pedals to the steering horn. A primary flight display (PFD), multifunction display, and a fractured section of the lower nose landing gear trunnion were retained and forwarded to National Transportation Safety Board laboratories for further examination. Metallurgical examination of the nose landing gear lower trunnion revealed fracture features consistent with overstress, and no evidence of fatigue. Review of PFD data revealed that the airplane was flying about 110 knots for 25 seconds on final approach. It crossed the displaced runway threshold about 100 knots, the 1,000-ft marker at 85 knots, and the midpoint of the available runway about 73 knots. Review of a pilot’s operating handbook for the make and model airplane revealed a published landing speed of 85 knots indicated airspeed (and 70 knots stall speed in the landing configuration). The wind was recorded as calm at AJR about the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N172MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N172MA), registered now, S/N 4697263, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA46 (500TP)
- Registry model: [New Piper PA-46-500TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-piper-pa-46-500tp) (registry code 7104606) (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: 4697263
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 2300
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 500 hp turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: N172ma
- Registered owner: N172ma
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 14, 2021, 90 hours before
- Departed: DTS, Destin, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AJR, Habersham County Airport, runway 06, 5,503 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,065 total, 27 in this make and model, 4,379 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KAJR
- METAR: KAJR 291955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/M14 A3004

## 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 20211129021799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211129021799A), Nov 29, 2021: New Piper Aircraft Inc PA-46-500TP, Cornelia, GA, Substantial damage. Based on evidence collected at the scene and at the recovery facility, the aircraft nosewheel steering system veered left even with the right wheel brake fully…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104333. 9.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14957997&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memoranda for the record (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14957034&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFRs-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14958095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Materials laboratory factual report (item 4, PDF, 12 pages, 14 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14309735&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=22-055%20-%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22LA079)-Rel.pdf
- Cockpit displays - specialist's factual report (item 5, PDF, 13 pages, 7 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16124686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cockpit%20Displays%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Cockpit displays - data (item 6, CSV, 991 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16124611&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Cockpit%20Displays%20-%20Data-Rel.csv
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 7, PDF, 9 pages, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14957615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control forms (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14957809&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Forms-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.

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