- Date
- October 13, 2023, 11:48 local (18:48 UTC)
- Place
- Eastsound, WA · Orcas Island Airport
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N509ZPiper PA 46-350P
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20231013017209A
- Case key
- 193258
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's unstable approach and improper configuration of the flaps during a go-around which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during his final approach, about 25 ft above the ground (agl), the airplane’s airspeed was too fast for the remaining available runway. The pilot initiated a go-around and raised the flaps prior to establishing a positive climb rate. Subsequently, the stall indicator warning sounded, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot then lowered the nose and the airplane impacted terrain. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N509Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA 46-350P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4636726
- Built
- 2018
- Airframe hours
- 575
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 17, 2023 · 78 hours before
- Departed
- KYKM · Yakima, WA
- Destination
- KORS · Eastsound, WA
- Airport
- ORS · Orcas Island, runway 16, 2,901 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 4, 2022
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,456 total · 659 in this make and model · 2,349 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Temperature
- 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.78 inHg
- Observed at
- KORS, 0.5 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KORS 131835Z AUTO 33005KT 9SM CLR 12/ A2978 RMK AO2=
Docket · 9
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 23.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.