Piper PA46-500TP accident near Phoenix, Arizona, January 9, 2011
On January 9, 2011 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA46-500TP, registered N5365D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor Internation airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was low nosewheel tire pressure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 2011 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Sky Harbor Internation · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46-500TP · all PA46-500TPs on the register
- Registration
- N5365D · no longer on the register · serial 4697161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered right concurrent with him placing the propeller into reverse. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway, but it exited the right side of the paved surface. During the runway excursion, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear steering assembly revealed no anomalies; the nose landing gear steering travel and rake angle were within manufacturer’s prescribed limits. Examination of the 8-ply nose landing gear tire revealed that the tire was underinflated at 43 psi, whereas the manufacturer’s recommended pressure is 70 psi. According to a Customer Information Letter that addressed nose landing gear steering concerns, the manufacturer stated that a nosewheel tire inflated to 70 psi allowed better steering control forces and warned that an underinflated tire could increase forces associated with steering. The pilot reported that he did not check the tire inflation pressure during the preflight.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tube › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,754 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 5,092 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRNO Reno NV at 7:00 pm
- Destination: KPHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 07R, 7,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from KPHX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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 N5365D 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.