Piper PA-46-350P accident near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, April 22, 2008
On April 22, 2008 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N345RP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Horace Williams 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2008 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina · Horace Williams Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N345RP · registry record · serial 4622096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported the wind was "gusty and bumpy" during final approach to the destination airport. As the airplane "crossed the numbers" for runway 9, it touched down and "ballooned up" twice, before the pilot added power to avoid a stall. When it touched down again, the nose wheel broke off, and the propeller struck the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. At the time of the accident, the winds were recorded from 050 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,291 hours in all; 652 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,721 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34A Laurens SC at 5:30 pm
- Destination: IGX Chapel Hill NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from IGX
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.
Other NTSB records under N345RP 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.