Piper PA 46-350P accident near Akron, Ohio, February 12, 2015
On February 12, 2015 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 2002 Piper PA 46-350P, registered N427AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Akron, Ohio (Akron Fulton Intl airport). It was a business 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 failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2015 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, Ohio · Akron Fulton Intl · 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
- N427AB · registry record · serial 4636324
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane veered off the left side of the runway during landing with a left gusting crosswind. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane was 17 knots. The pilot stated that he had applied right rudder and left aileron control inputs for the landing. The airplane left main landing gear touched down first and when the right main landing gear contacted the runway, a gust of wind lifted the left wing, resulting in a loss of directional control. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and into a grass area adjacent to the runway where the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 243 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 575 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 13, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,848 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 4,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 1,003 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYE Indianapolis IN at 6:10 pm
- Destination: AKR Akron OH
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 07, 6,336 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 12°F (-11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from AKR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 7, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airplane Information | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.