On 17 May 2012, a PIPER PA46 350T operated by David Panagrossi was involved in an aviation accident near Springfield, VT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During landing, a strong gust lifted the left wing, causing the airplane to veer left, strike a runway sign and light, and come to rest in a field with substantial damage.
Event Description
According to the pilot, during the landing a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing and subsequently the left main landing gear off the ground. The pilot applied full right rudder in an attempt to compensate for the wind, but the airplane continued to veer off the left side of the runway. It then struck a runway sign and a runway light before coming to rest in a field. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Wind Conditions
The wind reported at the airport around the time of the accident was 310 degrees at 10 knots gusting 21 knots.
Contributing factors
Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotEffect on operation