Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 46-350P near Clovis, NM — 2022-10-02

Final reportWPR23LA002
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Date
2022-10-02
Location
Clovis, NM, USA
Airport
CVN
Aircraft
PIPER PA 46-350P
Registration
N987PS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to follow the go-around procedures by prematurely retracting the flaps and not establishing a proper go-around climb speed after attempting to land with a quartering tailwind, resulting in the airplane’s inability to climb.

NTSB narrative

As the pilot approached the destination airport, the wind was reported as light and variable. He stated that as he flew the visual approach to runway 4 and prepared to land, he encountered a major gust of wind and elected to perform a go-around. The pilot reported that he applied full engine power, retracted the landing gear and flaps, and initiated a climb when the “stall shaker started shaking”. The pilot lowered the nose to prevent the airplane from stalling and initiated a gear-up landing to an open field adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported encountering a gust of wind; however, the wind reported at the airport 4 minutes before the accident was from 180 ° at 11 knots. The wind reported about an hour after the accident was from 160° at 10 knots. Neither weather report indicated wind gusts or significant changes in wind direction. The calculated crosswind component at the time of the accident was about 7 knots, with a tailwind of about 8 knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Given the pilot’s description of the go-around and the absence of a mechanical failure or malfunction, he likely retracted the flaps before establishing the required climb airspeed and positive rate of climb. The quartering tailwind would have contributed to the loss of expected airplane performance, resulting in an incipient stall and the subsequent gear-up landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have maintained approach instead of aborting due to wind gust.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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