Piper PA46 accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, August 31, 2018
On August 31, 2018 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 2008 Piper PA46, registered N747DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County Int Jetport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to attempt to take off in an overweight airplane in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to climb, an aborted takeoff, and a subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2018 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County Int Jetport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46 350P, built 2008 · all PA46s on the register
- Registration
- N747DA · no longer on the register · serial 4636445
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and five passengers were departing the airport on an international cross-country flight. The pilot attempted an intersection takeoff in high density altitude conditions over the airplane's maximum gross weight. The airplane would not become airborne, so the pilot back taxied and attempted to take off on the full length of another runway. The airplane lifted off but was not climbing, so the pilot lowered the nose and the airplane hit the runway hard. The airplane veered right and exited the runway surface, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation and that he attempted the takeoff in an overweight airplane at a high density altitude. Calculations showed that the airplane's maximum gross takeoff weight was exceeded by at least 300 lbs, and the density altitude was about 6,900 ft.
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 loading event during prior to flight
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 12, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 4,299 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DNA Santa Teresa NM at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Chihuahua
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 9,550 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from DNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on February 3, 2020. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Fuel Logs from Santa Teresa FBO | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weight and Balance Data Sheet | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for the Record Weight and Balance Calculations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array 2 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for the Record Pilot Information Reported Via Telephone Conversation to NTSB Iic | PDF, 1 page | 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.