Piper PA-46-350P accident near Block Island, Rhode Island, September 5, 1993
On September 5, 1993 at about 3:08 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N46DK, was destroyed in an accident near Block Island, Rhode Island (Block Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1993 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- Block Island, Rhode Island · Block Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N46DK · registry record · serial 4622010
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, THE PILOT MADE S-TURNS TO ALLOW FOR PROPER SPACING FROM A PRECEDING AIRPLANE. ON SHORT FINAL, HE DECIDED TO GO AROUND BECAUSE THE RUNWAY WAS STILL NOT CLEAR. HOWEVER, HE REPORTED THERE WAS A LACK OF RESPONSE CONCERNING THE POWER, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED. THE PILOT TRIED TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE, BUT ITS RIGHT WING AND LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, THE OUTWARD PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING WAS TORN AWAY FROM THE AIRPLANE AND A FUEL LINE WAS RUPTURED. A GROUND FIRE ERUPTED AND BURNED THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE'S STRUCTURE AND RIGHT WING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,100 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1993; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AEZA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Deka Research & Devel. CORP
The flight
- Departed from: MHT Manchester NH at 2:00 pm
- Destination: BID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from BID
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.