Piper PA46-500TP accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 10, 2023
On December 10, 2023 at about 9:11 pm local time, a 2005 Piper PA46-500TP, registered N90ZZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ann Arbor Muni 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with unexpected wind shear during final approach, which resulted in a hard landing short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 2023 · about 9:11 pm local time
- Place
- Ann Arbor, Michigan · Ann Arbor Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46-500TP, built 2005 · all PA46-500TPs on the register
- Registration
- N90ZZ · registry record · serial 4697223
- 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 he was flying the RNAV (GPS) approach to runway 24 and experienced turbulence about 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl), which was about 700 ft above ground level (agl). He continued the approach with an airspeed between 95 and 100 kts. He stated that about 50 ft agl and short of the runway, the airplane encountered wind shear that violently forced the airplane to the ground. The airplane impacted the ground in a wings level attitude and continued onto the runway. The left main landing gear separated, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, then came to rest in the grass facing 180° from the direction of travel. Postaccident photos of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated to the responding fire department that there was a 30 kt crosswind on final approach. The recorded wind data around the time of the accident showed the wind was from 250° to 260° and 7 to 11 kts.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,304 hours in all; 219 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,475.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 5,134 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 24,755 hours total
- Operator: Cahoots Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: OSU Columbus OH at 8:13 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 06/2, 3,505 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:33 pm from KARB
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KARB 102133Z 25007KT 7SM SCT010 BKN014 OVC025 02/01 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB10E19 P0000 T00220006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA058.