Piper PA-46-350P accident near Xenia, Ohio, October 9, 2013
On October 9, 2013 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 2002 Piper PA-46-350P, registered N561C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Xenia, Ohio (Greene County Regional 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 nose landing gear failure as a result of a fatigue fracture of the engine mount nose gear actuator feet in an area detailed in a service bulletin. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate completion of the inspection specified in the service bulletin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2013 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Xenia, Ohio · Greene County Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P, built 2002 · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N561C · registry record · serial 4636326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that when the nosewheel touched the runway during landing, the airplane began to pull quickly to the left. He applied right brake and pulled back on the yoke, but the airplane continued to veer off the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled about 500 feet before the nose gear collapsed back into the wheel well, and the airplane's nose and propeller impacted the ground. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the engine mount in the area of the nose gear actuator feet was fractured. As a result of similar accidents, Piper Aircraft had previously issued a Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No. 1103D on February 2, 2011. The purpose of the 100-hour recurring inspection specified in SB 1103D was to determine if cracks had developed on the engine mount in the area of the nose gear actuator feet. The accident occurred about 81 hours of time in service after the SB 1103D was complied with. The postaccident examination of the engine mount revealed that the paint around the engine mount attach feet area was only partially removed and not as specified in the SB. A microscopic examination of the right foot of the engine mount revealed that there were fracture features indicative of fatigue progression in many areas. Although the paint removal was not as thorough as specified in the SB, the area where the fatigue fracture was located was in the area where the paint had been removed and should have been detectable during the inspection.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear attach section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear attach section › Inadequate inspection
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,260 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2012; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,299 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-AEA2 (piston); 1,150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUO Auburn AL at 12:00 pm
- Destination: I19 Xenia OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 07, 4,950 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 008° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:00 pm from I19
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.