Probable cause
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported the wind was "gusty and bumpy" during final approach to the destination airport. As the airplane "crossed the numbers" for runway 9, it touched down and "ballooned up" twice, before the pilot added power to avoid a stall. When it touched down again, the nose wheel broke off, and the propeller struck the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. At the time of the accident, the winds were recorded from 050 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for NYC08CA169 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 22, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Horace Williams Airport (IGX)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-46-350P
- N-number
- N345RP
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.