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

September 13, 2006 · Piper PA-46T-350P · N71DH

Colo. Springs, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 13, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Colo. Springs, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-46T-350P
Tail Number
N71DH
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN06CA127

The pilot had been cleared to land, and at that time the runway was vacant. While on short final, the control tower cleared a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 for takeoff. The pilot considered making a go-around, but decided against it because there were numerous airplanes following him. The pilot planned to touch down at a point prior to where the MD-80 rotated but encountered turbulence from the engines of the departing jet. The airplane pitched up and the airspeed disintegrated rapidly, causing it to land hard on its mains and bounce. The airplane bounced a second time and the pilot applied full power. The airplane impacted the runway a third time, causing the nose gear to collapse, and skidded to a stop on the runway. Further examination revealed the right wing upper skin was wrinkled.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors in this accident were the jet blast encounter, and the pilot's failure to initiate a go-around when he felt an unsafe condition existed.

Full Narrative

On September 13, 2006, approximately 1524 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-46T-350P, N71DH, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it made a hard landing at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Springfield, Missouri, and was en route to Colorado Springs. According to the pilot's accident report, he had been cleared to land on runway 17R. At that time the runway was vacant. While on short final, the control tower cleared a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 for takeoff. "I was surprised that [the MD-80] did not do a rolling start and that he was not ordered to expedite for landing traffic," the pilot wrote. He considered making a go-around, but decided against it because there were numerous airplanes following him. "I thought [the landing] could be safely completed before the point [the MD-80] rotated. I unexpectedly encountered sever turbulence from the engines of the departing jet at approximately 10-15 feet above the normal touchdown. The aircraft pitched up and the airspeed disintegrated rapidly, causing the aircraft to land violently on the mains, and bouncing me high off the runway. The aircraft bounced a second time and I applied full power in an attempt to save it. I could not generate enough lift and the aircraft impacted the runway the third time causing the nose gear to collapse. The aircraft skidded to a stop on the runway." Further examination revealed the right wing upper skin was wrinkled.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:24 MDT
Nearest AirportColorado Springs Municipal (0nm)
Runway17R
Runway Length11021 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-46T-350P
Tail NumberN71DH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney Canada · PT6A-35 · Turboprop · 560
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 67 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46
Altimeter30.06 inHg
Observation Time21:34
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data