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Accidents · NTSB GAA16CA378 · Final report

Piper Aircraft INC PA46R accident near Denver, Colorado, July 14, 2016

On July 14, 2016 at about 6:11 pm local time, a 2008 Piper Aircraft INC PA46R, registered N465BP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Denver, Colorado (Front Range airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's improper nose down pitch attitude during touchdown resulting in a propeller strike, hard bounced landing, and nose landing gear collapse.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 14, 2016 · about 6:11 pm local time
Place
Denver, Colorado · Front Range · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper Aircraft INC PA46R 350T, built 2008
Registration
N465BP · registry record · serial 4692032
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 following an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross country flight, he canceled his IFR clearance, and made a visual approach to runway 26. He recalled that Tower told him that his airplane would be the last to land on runway 26, and he recalled that the inbound airplane behind him was vectored for an approach to runway 08. He reported that after landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid to the right side of the runway, and partially exited the runway before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, firewall and fuselage bulkheads. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector that examined the airplane and the accident scene, reported that during the landing the propeller struck the runway, the airplane bounced and settled back to the runway about 100 feet further down the runway where a second set of propeller blade strike markings were identified. The Inspector reported that the propeller blade strike markings were accompanied by black rubber skid marks that extended from the runway centerline and veered to the right edge of the runway. The Inspector reported that, the nose gear collapsed backwards as evidenced by white paint marks and metallic material scarring the asphalt. The airplane continued to veer to the right where it eventually departed the paved runway coming to a rest in the dirt. The Inspector confirmed that the distance from the initial propeller strike to the wreckage was about 735 feet. The meteorological aerodrome report at the accident airport reported that the wind direction and distance about the time of the accident was 010 degrees true at 4 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

  1. Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
  2. Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
  3. Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
  4. Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
  5. Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
  • cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Flight time: 440 hours in all; 103 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: March 27, 2016
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

Passenger

  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 692.8 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 28, 2016
  • Maximum gross weight: 4,340 lb
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 693 hours total
  • Operator: Matrix 37, LLC.

The flight

  • Departed from: HDE Holdrege NE at 4:20 pm
  • Destination: FTG Denver CO
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 26, 8,000 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
  • Visibility: 30 statute miles
  • Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
  • Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
  • Observation at 5:51 pm from KFTG

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 26, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.