Piper PA-32-301XTC N819C

Summary

On 17 January 2008 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA-32-301XTC registered N819C was involved in an accident near Taos, New Mexico, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 January 2008 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Taos, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Taos Muni (SKX)

Coordinates

36.4581, -105.6722

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-301XTC

Registration

N819C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mc Kinney → Angel Fire

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

DEN08CA051

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's excessive airspeed during the approach and loss of control during the landing. Contributing factors were the mountain turbulence and the snowbank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the approach, the airplane encountered "extreme mountain turbulence" and the pilot "kept his speed up." Shortly after touchdown, the airplane "windmilled" to the left. The pilot then aborted the landing and during initial climb, the airplane's main landing impacted a snow bank located at the end of the runway. The main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane remained airborne. The pilot then flew around the local area for a unspecified period of time and landed gear-up at a nearby airport. During the gear-up landing, the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted the snow-covered terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed the right aileron was bent and partially separated.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.