Accident Overview
On August 31, 2018, at about 1700 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA46-350P airplane, registration N747DA, owned by a private individual, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from the Dona Ana International Jetport (DNA) in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The flight was a personal cross-country trip operated under Title 14 Federal Code Regulations Part 91, with an intended destination of Chihuahua, Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Sequence of Events
After refueling and loading passengers and baggage, the pilot taxied to the intersection of taxiway Delta and runway 10. With 10° of flaps and full throttle, the takeoff roll began from the intersection. The airplane did not lift off, so the pilot aborted the takeoff and back-taxied to the end of the reciprocal runway (runway 28). The pilot reported calm wind.
With 20° of flaps and full throttle, the pilot commenced a takeoff using the full length of runway 28. As the airplane approached 60–70 knots, it began to lift off but failed to climb. The pilot then lowered the nose toward the runway. The airplane struck the runway hard, veered right, and exited the runway, coming to a stop in the grass. All six occupants—the private pilot and five passengers—were not injured and exited the aircraft.
Aircraft Damage
During the runway excursion, the left main landing gear collapsed. The top of the left wing was punctured, and the right wing’s leading edge was buckled and dented along the span of the front spar.
Pilot Report and Weight Calculations
On the National Transportation Safety Board Accident Report Form 6120, the pilot reported that he took off overweight and at a high density altitude. He indicated no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Using the aircraft’s weight and balance sheet (dated June 8, 2008), fuel logs, and estimated pilot and passenger weights, the takeoff weight at the time of the accident was calculated to be about 4,675 lbs., excluding baggage. Fixed Base Operator personnel reported that a large amount of baggage was loaded, but its weight was not known. The maximum takeoff weight for the airplane is 4,358 lbs. The density altitude was approximately 6,900 ft.