# NTSB SEA91LA032: Piper PA-46-310P, Seattle, WA, December 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1990, 01:30 local (09:30 UTC)
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Coordinates: 47.440238, -122.280929 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4402&lon=-122.2809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41373
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41373/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA032

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE ON AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH UNDER INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT STALLING AND ENTER A SPIN.

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-46-310P ATTEMPTED TO OVERRIDE HIS AUTOPILOT DURING A LOCALIZER INTERCEPT. HE HEARD THE STALL WARNING HORN, MISIDENTFYING IT AS THE LANDING GEAR HORN. HE STATED THAT HE THEN LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT THEN STALLED AND ENTERED A SPIN. DURING HIS SPIN RECOVERY ATTEMPT, HE BROKE OUT INTO VISUAL CONDITIONS. HE REENTERED THE CLOUDS AND WAS VECTORED FOR A SECOND ILS APPROACH, WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE UPPER WING SKINS ON BOTH WINGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN WRINKLED DURING THE EVENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N437OZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-8408073
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-BE 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David S Weiss
- Departed: PDX, PORTLAND, OR
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; flight hours: 846 total, 311 in this make and model, 589 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °F

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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