Piper PA 46-350P N6962S

Summary

On 28 February 2021 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper PA 46-350P registered N6962S, operated by David Ratajczak, was involved in an accident near Aspen, Colorado, United States. One person was 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

28 February 2021 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Aspen, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Fld (ASE)

Coordinates

39.2251, -106.8694

Aircraft

Piper PA 46-350P

Registration

N6962S

Category

Airplane

Year built

2000

Engines

1

Operator

David Ratajczak

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Centennial → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA186

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control on landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during landing when the airplane’s nose landing gear contacted the runway the airplane veered “very sharply” to the left. The pilot attempted to correct using the rudder and brakes; however, the airplane departed the side of the runway and slid over ice and snow. The pilot then steered the airplane back towards the runway, but as he did the airplane collided with a runway light. The nose wheel landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene reported that a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. The FAA inspector later reported that during the airplane’s repair, no anomalies were detected which would have contributed to a loss of directional control. The pilot reported 56 hours in make and model and 246 total hours. It is unknown if his experience level contributed to the loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.