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WPR25LA117

2025-03-19 · Henderson, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport HND

Current FAA registration · N171M

Make / Model
PIPER PA 46-350P
Year of manufacture
2024 · 1 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A (350 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20240401
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A11DF7

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, in gusting crosswind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a crosswind gust. The airplane drifted to the right about 10°, and while correcting with rudder the left main landing gear touched down. The airplane veered to the left, exited the runway, and struck a ditch, which substantially damaged the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 35L with wind from 300° at 14 knots, gusting 18 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_WPR25LA117.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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