Piper PA46 accident near San Diego, California, December 30, 2018
On December 30, 2018 at about 11:53 pm local time, a 1999 Piper PA46, registered N4161X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near San Diego, California (Montgomer-Gibbs Executive Airp 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
Loss of directional control during the landing roll 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
- December 30, 2018 · about 11:53 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomer-Gibbs Executive Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46 350P, built 1999 · all PA46s on the register
- Registration
- N4161X · no longer on the register · serial 46-36240
- 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 the airplane began to pull to the left shortly after touchdown. He applied corrective control inputs, but the airplane continued to veer left and departed the runway, and the main landing gear collapsed. Examination did not reveal any anomalies with the steering system that would have precluded normal operation, and all appropriate service bulletins had been complied with. The nose gear actuator had detached at an area on the airframe that was prone to fatigue failure; however, examination of the actuator assembly revealed that it had detached during an overload event, likely from the impact as the airplane departed the runway.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,432 hours in all; 763 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,284 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,741.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 2018; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,299 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 1,741 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMYF San Diego CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: KMYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 4,598 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KMYF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 17, 2022. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 19-069 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Landing Gear Examination Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Service Bulletins | PDF, 19 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
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.