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CEN21LA186

2021-02-28 · Aspen, Colorado, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ASE

Current FAA registration · N6962S

Make / Model
PIPER PA 46-350P
Year of manufacture
2000 · 21 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING TIO 540 SER (250 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20000403
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A943AF

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control on landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing when the airplane’s nose landing gear contacted the runway the airplane veered “very sharply” to the left. The pilot attempted to correct using the rudder and brakes; however, the airplane departed the side of the runway and slid over ice and snow. The pilot then steered the airplane back towards the runway, but as he did the airplane collided with a runway light. The nose wheel landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene reported that a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. The FAA inspector later reported that during the airplane’s repair, no anomalies were detected which would have contributed to a loss of directional control. The pilot reported 56 hours in make and model and 246 total hours. It is unknown if his experience level contributed to the loss of control. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Runway/taxi/approach light-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_CEN21LA186.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (loss of control). All research papers