What happened
On April 18, 2007, a Piper PA-46-350P was conducting an IFR flight from Rome-Ciampino to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden. The flight was carrying a pilot and three passengers. During the approach to runway 03, the pilot requested a direct approach, citing low fuel levels. Air traffic control provided radar vectors to facilitate a shorter approach, but the pilot did not implement the assigned heading changes.
As the aircraft entered the control zone, radar data showed a high rate of descent of 2,640 feet per minute at 182 knots. By the time the aircraft reached the runway threshold, the speed had reduced to 137 knots with a sink rate of 1,560 feet per minute. The pilot reported that the aircraft suddenly dropped or "sagged" just behind the threshold at an estimated height of one to two meters, without any stall warning. The pilot believed the aircraft was already on the ground when the drop occurred.
The aircraft initially touched down 420 meters beyond the threshold. This impact caused the nose gear hydraulic cylinder mounting to break and the propeller to strike the runway. A second hard impact occurred approximately 210 meters beyond the threshold, which caused the left main gear to collapse. The aircraft then veered right off the paved surface and capsized on the unpaved shoulder. Four persons were on board; three sustained minor injuries and one sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined radar recordings from the air traffic control organization and radio communications. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, the pilot's flight experience, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder or Cockpit Voice Recorder, as they were not required for this type of operation.
Findings
- The approach was unstable, characterized by a high sink rate and failure to follow assigned radar vectors.
- The pilot's request for a shorter approach due to low fuel led to an approach that did not meet stabilized approach criteria.
- The aircraft's fuel levels were critically low, with only approximately 3.1 US gallons of usable fuel remaining at the time of the accident.
- The primary cause of the accident was the unstable approach and subsequent hard landing, which led to the structural failure of the landing gear and the subsequent excursion and capsize.