Piper PA46 N21EP

Summary

On 23 March 2012 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA46 registered N21EP, operated by Mascaro Air LLC., was involved in an accident near Wellington, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 March 2012 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wellington, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Wellington (FD38)

Coordinates

26.4656, -80.1497

Aircraft

Piper PA46

Registration

N21EP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mascaro Air LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wellington → Vero Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12LA250

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness reported that the airplane veered left during the takeoff roll and headed toward a large ditch that surrounded the runway. It appeared that the pilot did not attempt to stop the airplane or abort the takeoff. The airplane continued toward the ditch, and, upon reaching the ditch's edge, the airplane rotated and reached an altitude of about 50 feet. The airplane's left wing collided with trees. The airplane rolled left and then right before stalling and crashing. The pilot stated that the airplane seemed to pull left on takeoff, possibly due to a right quartering tailwind, and that he did not realize where he was positioned on the runway. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.