Piper PA-46-310P accident near Wachula, Florida, December 2, 2014
On December 2, 2014 at about 6:06 pm local time, a 1986 Piper PA-46-310P, registered N933TK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Wachula, Florida (Wauchula Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing during gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2014 · about 6:06 pm local time
- Place
- Wachula, Florida · Wauchula Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P, built 1986 · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N933TK · no longer on the register · serial 4608029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he flew the traffic pattern to a touchdown zone landing on runway centerline. However, after touching down, the airplane "floated back up," then touched down again "with authority." It bounced again, then "weather vaned some," and the pilot became concerned that the airplane was "chewing up runway." The airplane then touched down a third time, but the pilot did not pull back on the yoke. He subsequently heard the propeller strike the runway, the airplane then veered off the right side of the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the engine mounts broke. The pilot indicated that there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Nearest recorded weather included winds that were about 90 degrees from the right of the runway, at 10, gusting to 15 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 692 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 556 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 21, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 4,101 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jupiter Malibu, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 5:19 pm
- Destination: CHN Wachula FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 4,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from LAL, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.