Piper PA 46-350P accident near Carrizo Springs, Texas, January 14, 2022
On January 14, 2022 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1995 Piper PA 46-350P, registered N646CA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Carrizo Springs, Texas (Dimmit County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 of the airplane during landing with a gusting crosswind that resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2022 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carrizo Springs, Texas · Dimmit County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 46-350P, built 1995 · all PA 46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N646CA · no longer on the register · serial 4622196
- 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 while landing at his destination airport and entering ground effect on final approach, the airplane “was blown left” from the runway centerline and ballooned. The pilot pushed the nose over to keep the airplane from stalling. As the wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and flap. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 13 with wind 180o at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 584 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 26, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,716 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 1,719 hours total
- Operator: Single Windmill Ranch
The flight
- Departed from: RYW Lago Vista TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 130, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 pm from KCZT
Weather report (METAR): KCZT 142030Z AUTO 18008G14KT 10SM CLR 27/01 A2982 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 15, 2022. 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN22LA105 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array CEN22LA105 | PDF, 2 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.