CEN13LA171

Factual narrative

On February 13, 2013, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA46-500TP, N32CA, rolled forward and struck a building after the engine was started. The airplane sustained substantial damage to a wing. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to Croft Aviation LLC and was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was destined to Centennial Airport, Denver, Colorado. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.A fixed base operator (FBO) employee stated that he was standing in front of the airplane waiting for it to start. The airplane started and about a minute later, it began to move forward. As the airplane was moving forward, the employee signaled the pilot to move straight ahead. After the airplane moved about 13 feet, the employee signaled the pilot to turn right. To the employee's "shock," the airplane continued forward and into a grass area with the propeller at "high speed." The employee ran and turned around to see the airplane impact a rock pier at a building. The propeller flung pieces of stone. The left wing was "pouring" out fuel. The pilot stated that the airplane was on the ramp facing a building. Upon engine start, the airplane moved forward with pressure on both toe brakes. The brakes were pumped several times before they began to slow the airplane but did not stop the airplane before it impacted building. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that he was able to stop the airplane and a tow vehicle while the airplane was being towed. Examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane began to roll forward about 1 minute after engine start and impacted a building. The pilot stated that, though the airplane slowed when he pumped the brakes several times, he could not stop it using both toe brakes. An employee of the fixed based operator who witnessed the accident stated that the airplane's propeller was operating "at high speed" as it moved forward into a grass area before impacting the building. The pilot reported that the engine was stopped before impact. Postaccident examination of the airplane braking system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Available evidence suggests that the pilot did not reduce engine power and effectively apply the brakes in sufficient time to stop the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C