Piper PA-46-500TP accident near Monroe, North Carolina, November 24, 2013
On November 24, 2013 at about 2:15 am local time, a 2000 Piper PA-46-500TP, registered N4185L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Monroe, North Carolina (Charlotte-Monroe Executive 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 operation of the airplane with underinflated tires, which resulted in the right tire’s failure during 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
- November 24, 2013 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · Charlotte-Monroe Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-500TP, built 2000 · all PA-46-500TPs on the register
- Registration
- N4185L · registry record · serial 4697025
- 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, during the takeoff roll and at rotation speed, the right main landing gear tire failed. He aborted the takeoff, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The ground around the runway edge was uneven due to airfield construction, and the wings bounced as the airplane departed the runway surface, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. The right main tire was found failed at the accident site. The left main tire pressure was measured with a tire gauge, and it registered 40 pounds per square inch (psi); 55 psi was required by the manufacturer. The nose tire was also underinflated. Subsequent examination of the tire at the manufacturer's facility revealed no preexisting manufacturing anomalies or foreign-object damage. The damage to the right tire and inner tube were consistent with underinflation during operation.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Not serviced/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,803 hours in all; 2,969 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 6,670 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 8, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,953 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 2013; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,092 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 2,954 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EQY Monroe NC at 2:15 am
- Destination: TYS Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 05, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from EQY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4185L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.