Piper PA46-350P N619VH

Summary

On 29 March 2011 at about 20:04 local time, a Piper PA46-350P registered N619VH was involved in an accident near Monroe, Michigan, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 March 2011 at 20:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Monroe, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Custer Airport (TTF)

Coordinates

41.9400, -83.4347

Aircraft

Piper PA46-350P

Registration

N619VH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bedford → Monroe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11FA253

3 people died.

The pilot's demonstration of poor judgment by attempting a high-speed pass several feet above the runway and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

**This report was modified on 6/10/13. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.** While flying an approach, the pilot attempted to contact one of his flight instructors. A witness reported and radar data showed the airplane approaching the runway at a higher-than-normal speed. As the airplane leveled low over the runway, the propeller began striking the runway surface. The damage from repetitive propeller strikes resulted in a loss of the thrust and airspeed necessary for flight. The airplane impacted the ground and subsequently caught fire. The postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed that the airplane was configured with the landing gear and flaps retracted. No mechanical anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Weight and balance estimates of the airplane indicated that the pilot was operating the airplane outside of its certified weight and center of gravity limits. Forensic toxicology performed on the pilot showed the presence of Hydrocodone and Dihydrocodeine, indicative of the pilot using disqualifying sedating cough or pain medications. These medications can impair performance in high workload environments. The level of medication found in the pilot’s blood at the time of the accident could not be determined. Additionally, Nortriptyline was detected in the pilot’s tissues. While the medications could have had degrading effects on the pilot’s performance, the investigation was not able to determine what role they may have played in the accident sequence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.