Piper PA46-500TP accident near Rockwall, Texas, April 28, 2001
On April 28, 2001 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA46-500TP, registered N61PK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall Municipal 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 loss of directional control during landing roll as a result of insufficient nose gear steering authority.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2001 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rockwall, Texas · Rockwall Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46-500TP · all PA46-500TPs on the register
- Registration
- N61PK · registry record · serial 4697053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the Piper Malibu Meridian touched down on the runway, it started to veer right. Rudder control inputs were ineffective, and the airplane continued off the right side of the runway. With the airplane heading toward hangars and bystanders, the pilot elected to abort the landing. He applied full power, and the airplane began to turn back toward the runway. The airplane drug its left wing along an embankment, continued onto the departure end of the runway and struck a runway end identifier light. The airplane crossed a road, struck a fence, small trees, and continued over uneven terrain collapsing the landing gear before coming to a stop. No pre-impact anomalies with the aircraft were identified during the post-accident examination. The aircraft manufacturer conducted numerous taxi and flight tests in an attempt to duplicate what the pilot reported. Tests consisted of normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, high-speed taxi testing, and landing and taxi tests using "abnormal, abusive nose steering techniques." No anomalies were noted, and the pull to the right was not duplicated; however, the manufacturer issued Service Bulletin No. 1106, which "recommends mandatory incorporation" of nose gear installation modifications that increase the pilot's steering authority.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,804 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 4,710 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,884 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-A-42A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIB Hattiesburg MS at 8:15 pm
- Destination: F46 Rockwall TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 3,373 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.