Piper PA 46-350P N727MC

Summary

On 9 January 2011 at about 20:40 local time, a Piper PA 46-350P registered N727MC, operated by Welton Michael O Trustee, was involved in an accident near Westcliffe, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 January 2011 at 20:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Westcliffe, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.8947, -105.4406

Aircraft

Piper PA 46-350P

Registration

N727MC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Welton Michael O Trustee

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Phoenix → Pueblo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11FA150

2 people died.

The pilot's loss of control following an encounter with moderate to severe weather.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While en route to the destination airport, the pilot was issued a clearance to descend. As the airplane descended to the assigned altitude, radar plots depicted the airplane entering a right turn, climbing rapidly, and then descending rapidly in a spiral-like pattern. The airplane wreckage was found the following day in mountainous terrain. Several tall trees surrounded the perimeter of the wreckage. Many of the trees showed scuff marks down the trunks consistent with the airplane impacting the terrain in a near-vertical descent. All airplane components were accounted for at the accident site. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed no preimpact failures of the airframe or the engine. A weather analysis revealed that the airplane was descending in the immediate vicinity of a stationary front. The weather conditions in the area were conducive to the production of moderate to severe turbulence, mountain wave activity with updraft/downdrafts in excess of 750 feet per minute, and moderate icing. The radar data confirmed that the airplane began its rapid descent shortly after entering cumuliform clouds. The radar information along with the wreckage at the accident site was consistent with the pilot losing control while trying to maneuver the airplane in an area of turbulent weather.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.