New Piper Aircraft INC PA-46-500T incident near Aspen, Colorado, February 4, 2009
On February 4, 2009 at about 7:19 pm local time, a New Piper Aircraft INC PA-46-500T, registered N535JR, suffered minor damage in an incident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Aspen, Colorado (Aspen-Pitkin County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2009 · about 7:19 pm local time
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado · Aspen-Pitkin County Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- New Piper Aircraft INC PA-46-500T
- Registration
- N535JR · registry record · serial 4697253
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and passenger were landing following a cross-country flight. As soon as the nosewheel touched down on landing, the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot attempted to correct to the right and the airplane began swerving and exited the right side of the runway and came to a stop in a snow bank. The pilot told investigators the airplane had seven previous instances of the airplane pulling to the left during landing. In each of those cases, the steering departure occurred upon nosewheel touchdown and the pilot was able to regain control. Weather at the time of the accident was clear skies and the winds were variable at five knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed the nose gear rake angle was negative (-) .5 to -.7 degrees. Proper rake angle is 0.0 to positive .5 degrees. The manufacturers's analysis of the measured -.5 to -.7 degree rake angle showed that the rake angle maintained a positive margin of safety against dynamic nosewheel shimmy. The investigation could not determine the cause of the steering departure.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Related maintenance info
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 3, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 2008; 152 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-42A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Richbuilt Construction LLC
The flight
- Departed from: RVS Tulsa OK at 1:00 am
- Destination: Aspen CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 7,006 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.