# NTSB SEA03LA022: Piper PA-46-350P, N9260P, Pasco, WA, December 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 2002, 16:00 local (Dec 1, 2002, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Pasco, WA - Coordinates: 46.25, -119.120552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2500&lon=-119.1206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56271/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA022 ## Probable cause Icing conditions and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing. An inadvertent stall was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after descending to a lower altitude, the airframe began picking up moderate to severe mixed ice. The pilot cycled the de-icing boots and turned on the windshield heat. After climbing back to a higher altitude, most of the ice cleared. The pilot was then cleared for the ILS approach. The pilot stated that the aircraft broke out of the clouds at about 400 feet and 1/4 mile from the runway. When the aircraft was over the runway numbers and about ten feet above the runway, the aircraft unexpectedly stalled. The pilot added full power, however, the right main landing gear touched down hard and the right wing tip contacted the runway surface. The landing was completed and the pilot taxied the airplane to the hangar. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot noted that most of the airframe was moderately to severely covered with ice, to include the leading edges of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers and the propeller spinner. ## Factual narrative On November 30, 2002, at 1600 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N9260P, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco, Washington. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The private pilot and his five passengers were not injured. The flight departed from Portland, Oregon, about one hour prior to the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported that while being vectored to the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for runway 21 right, he descended from 11,000 feet to 2,500 feet. The aircraft started picking up moderate to severe mixed icing at 2,500 feet. The pilot reported this to the air traffic controller and was subsequently cleared to climb to 3,000 feet. The pilot cycled the de-icing boots and turned on the windshield heat. The pilot stated that most of the ice then cleared. The pilot was then instructed by air traffic control to descend to 2,500 feet until established on the ILS localizer. The aircraft broke out of the clouds at about 400 feet and the pilot had the airport in sight at about 1/4 of a mile out. The pilot stated that he accomplished the pre-landing check and everything was normal. When the aircraft was over the runway numbers, at 85 knots and about ten feet above the runway, the aircraft unexpectedly stalled. The pilot added full power, however, the right main landing gear touched down hard and the right wing tip contacted the runway surface. The landing was completed and the pilot taxied the airplane to the hangar. After exiting the aircraft the pilot noted that most of the airframe was moderately to severely covered with ice, to include the leading edges of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and the propeller spinner. Inspection of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Spokane, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, reported that the right main landing gear strut was displaced outboard. The bottom of the right wing tip was scraped and the top of the wing surface was wrinkled back to the outboard aileron hinge. The top surface and leading edge of the wing above and forward of the right main landing gear was also wrinkled. The top and sides of the fuselage was buckled just aft of the rear seats. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9260P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9260P), registered now, S/N 4636044, built 1996 (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 TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636044 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eli A. Adamian - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2002 - Departed: PDX, Portland, OR - Destination: PSC, Pasco, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PSC, Tri-Cities, runway 21R, 770 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 10, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,543 total, 160 in this make and model, 1,426 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: PSC ## 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 20021130035679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021130035679A), Nov 30, 2002: Piper PA46350P, Pasco, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was on an IFR flight from portland, Oregon to his home base in Pasco, WA. Light icing was encountered enroute and deicing equipment was used. Pilot… 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.