Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 2, 2004 · Piper PA-46-350P · N91734

Montgomery, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 2, 2004
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Montgomery, AL
Aircraft
Piper PA-46-350P
Tail Number
N91734
Operator
Howard M Robertson
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL04LA114

The pilot landed on runway 28 with a crosswind from the left. After touchdown, the airplane yawed to the left. The pilot started correcting for the yaw but the correction felt to be too strong for the airplane to handle. The pilot allowed the airplane to drift to the left, eventually departing the runway on the left side onto the grass. Twenty yards from the runway, the nose gear dug into the soft grass and collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose gear collapsed, the propeller broken and damage to the firewall. The right main landing gear and the right wing tip were also bent. The nose gear trunnion was sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for a fracture analysis. The trunnion from the nose gear assembly was examined and the fracture faces contained no evidence of a fatigue crack or other preexisting condition leading to the fracture. According to the pilot's handbook, the demonstrated crosswind component for the Piper PA-46-350P is 17 knots. The reported surface winds at the time of the accident were 200 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot had accumulated a total of 1300 hours in the PA-46.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind and his failure to maintain directional control during landing roll that resulted in the collapse of the nose gear. The crosswind was a contributing factor.

Full Narrative

On March 2, 2004, at 1120 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N91734, registered to and operated by a private pilot, nose gear collapsed during a landing on runway 28 at the Montgomery Regional Airport in Montgomery, Alabama. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Montgomery Regional Airport at 1040. The pilot landed on runway 28 with a crosswind from the left. After touchdown, the airplane yawed to the left. The pilot stated that he started correcting for the yaw but the correction felt to be too strong for the airplane to handle. The pilot allowed the airplane to drift to the left, eventually departing the runway on the left side onto the grass. Twenty yards from the runway, the nose gear dug into the soft grass and collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose gear had collapsed, the propeller assembly was broken, and there was damage to the engine compartment firewall. The right main landing gear and the right wing tip were also bent. The nose gear trunnion was sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for a fracture analysis. The trunnion from the nose gear assembly was examined and the fracture faces contained no evidence of a fatigue crack or other preexisting condition leading to the fracture. According to the pilot's handbook the, the demonstrated crosswind component for the Piper PA-46-350P is 17 knots. The reported surface winds at the time of the accident were 200 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot's had accumulated a total of 1300 hours in the PA-46.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:20 CST
Nearest AirportMontgomery Regional (0nm N)
Runway28
Runway Length9010 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-46-350P
Tail NumberN91734
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHoward M Robertson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-AE2A · Reciprocating · 350
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
Wind200° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 7500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.22 inHg
Observation Time15:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data