Piper PA 46 350P accident near Carefree, Arizona, November 7, 2013
On November 7, 2013 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1989 Piper PA 46 350P, registered N60TM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Carefree, Arizona (Sky Ranch At Carefree 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 failure of the left brake master cylinder seal, which rendered the left brake inoperative during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2013 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Carefree, Arizona · Sky Ranch At Carefree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 46 350P 350P, built 1989 · all PA 46 350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N60TM · registry record · serial 4622042
- 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, during the landing, he applied the brakes and that the left pedal subsequently hit the floor. He attempted to control the airplane with the right brake and left rudder, but, as the airplane slowed, the rudder became ineffective. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, struck a berm, and the nose landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airplane's left brake revealed that the left brake master cylinder seal had failed, which rendered the left brake inoperative. A review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that the brake master cylinders had recently been rebuilt and had accumulated about 40 service hours before the failure.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,665 hours in all; 949 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,618 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 27, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,196 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 4,299 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EGE Eagle CO at 5:25 pm
- Destination: 18AZ Carefree AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 4,037 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KDVT, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.