Piper Aircraft Inc PA46R-350T accident near Mooresville, NC
On December 31, 2023, a Piper Aircraft Inc PA46R-350T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mooresville, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 31, 2023
- Place
- Mooresville, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft Inc PA46R-350T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.625°N, 80.912°W
- NTSB ID
- 20231231193581
Official records · ERA24FA078
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 31, 2023, at 1213 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46R-350T, N539MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mooresville, North Carolina. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A family member reported that the pilot intended to take the airplane for a short local flight then refuel it for a family trip planned for the next day. According to ADS-B data for the accident flight, the airplane departed from runway 32 at Lake Norman Airpark (14A), Mooresville, North Carolina, about 1152 and climbed to an altitude of about 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) on a northwest ground track, following the Catawba River for about 30 nm. The data showed that, at 1202, the airplane turned left then flew a direct course back toward 14A. The airplane’s ground speed was about 200 kts for the entire flight until about 1210, when it decreased, and the airplane began a descent. The airplane’s last ADS-B position was recorded at 1213. It showed that the airplane was at an altitude of 850 ft msl, which was about 60 ft agl. The accident site was about 488 ft southeast of the last ADS-B position, which was about 3/4 nm from the threshold of runway 14. A witness located near the accident site reported hearing no engine noise from the airplane before the impact. A security camera located at a private residence captured both video and audio of the accident airplane. The airplane was visible for 9 seconds as it traveled from right to left across the camera’s field of
Probable cause
A missing induction clamp, which allowed the induction hose to the left side intercooler to become disconnected, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to an overly rich fuel/air mixture.
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Browse: North Carolina · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
