Piper PA-32-301XTC accident near Taos, New Mexico, January 17, 2008
On January 17, 2008 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301XTC, registered N819C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Taos, New Mexico (Taos Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive airspeed during the approach and loss of control during the landing. Contributing factors were the mountain turbulence and the snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2008 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Taos, New Mexico · Taos Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301XTC · all PA-32-301XTCs on the register
- Registration
- N819C · registry record · serial 3255049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach, the airplane encountered "extreme mountain turbulence" and the pilot "kept his speed up." Shortly after touchdown, the airplane "windmilled" to the left. The pilot then aborted the landing and during initial climb, the airplane's main landing impacted a snow bank located at the end of the runway. The main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane remained airborne. The pilot then flew around the local area for a unspecified period of time and landed gear-up at a nearby airport. During the gear-up landing, the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted the snow-covered terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed the right aileron was bent and partially separated.
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
- Turbulence encounter during approach
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Part(s) separation from AC during approach (VFR go-around)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Terrain induced turbulence › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKI Mc Kinney TX
- Destination: AXX Angel Fire NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.