Piper PA 46-350P N71DH

Summary

On 11 March 2013 at about 00:55 local time, a Piper PA 46-350P registered N71DH was involved in an accident near Rogers, Arkansas, 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

11 March 2013 at 00:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Rogers, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Rogers Municipal Airport-Carte (KROG)

Coordinates

36.3722, -94.1069

Aircraft

Piper PA 46-350P

Registration

N71DH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chattanooga → Rogers

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN13LA198

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control due to a sudden turbulence encounter while on final approach. Contributing to the accident was ice buildup on the wings’ leading edges.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on approach, ice accumulated on the wings’ leading edges. The pilot stated that the airplane was flying and handling well but that the air was turbulent during the descent. According to the pilot, when the airplane was about 75 to 100 feet above ground level, he encountered “severe turbulence” and a “downdraft,” which resulted in his inability to control the airplane's descent. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard on the runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The sudden loss of control was consistent with inadequate airspeed for the weather conditions and leading edge ice buildup on the wings, which led to an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.