Piper PA 46 350P accident near Auburn, Washington, July 22, 2014
On July 22, 2014 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 2004 Piper PA 46 350P, registered N60PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Auburn, Washington (Auburn Municipal 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
A collapse of the nose landing gear for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2014 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Washington · Auburn Municipal · 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, built 2004 · all PA 46 350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N60PB · no longer on the register · serial 4636362
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he performed the before landing checklist and verified that there were three green landing gear indicator lights illuminated. He added that the landing was "soft" and that he held the nose gear off the runway as long as possible. When the nose gear touched down, the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied right rudder control and brakes to avoid a runway excursion. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane was not made available for examination after the accident. A review of maintenance records indicated that a service bulletin (SB) to inspect the engine mounts for cracks, which the manufacturer considered mandatory, was not accomplished. The SB stated that cracks develop in the area of the nose gear actuator feet on the engine mount. The condition can occur when the nose landing gear is subjected to excessive loads due to hard landings, rough field operations, excessive-speed turns, improper airplane towing, or other improper operations. It is possible that the engine mount was cracked as identified in the service bulletin, which led to the nose gear collapse; however, because the airplane was not examined following the accident, the reason for the nose gear collapse could not be determined.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Other/unknown
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 21, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 4,299 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO 540 AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFI Seattle WA
- Destination: S50 Auburn WA
- Runway 16, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KSEA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N60PB 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.