Piper PA-46-310P Malibu Runway Excursion at Pamplona (EC-KVQ)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On 23 December 2008, a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, registration EC-KVQ, was preparing for a private flight from Pamplona Airport in Navarre to Sabadell Airport in Barcelona. The aircraft carried one pilot and two passengers. The flight plan indicated an initial departure under instrument flight rules (IFR) followed by visual flight rules (VFR). The planned departure time was 07:30 local time, with an estimated flight duration of 1 hour and 12 minutes. ## Weather and Operational Conditions Low visibility procedures were active at Pamplona due to fog and freezing conditions. At 08:00 local time, the METAR reported calm winds, visibility of 200 meters, runway visual range of 550 meters on runway 33, vertical visibility of 100 feet, a temperature of -3°C, a dew point of -4°C, and a QNH of 1,021 hPa. Freezing fog was recorded throughout the period from 04:30 UTC to 13:00 UTC. The takeoff was delayed due to engine starting problems and occurred at 08:27 local time from runway 33. ## Sequence of Events During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported no issues, and the aircraft rotated at an indicated airspeed of 80 knots. After becoming airborne and reaching 90 knots, the pilot observed that the vertical speed indicator read zero and the stall warning sounded continuously. With the runway still visible and the aircraft approximately 2 meters above the ground, the pilot decided to return to the runway to avoid entering the fog with no climb. The pilot reduced power, lowered the nose to maintain speed, and touched down on the main landing gear. ## Runway Excursion and Damage Upon landing, the wheels locked when the brakes were applied. The pilot cycled the brakes to maintain traction, but adhesion apparently ceased in the concrete area at the end of the runway. The pilot used the brakes and rudder to steer slightly right to avoid runway lights. The aircraft then exited the runway end onto the ground, skidded uncontrollably, and came to rest at a 60-degree angle to the left of the runway centerline. The post-incident inspection revealed major damage, including four broken propeller blades, a collapsed nose gear with damaged doors and actuation mechanisms, dented engine cowlings, and a deformed engine mount. Minor damage occurred to other property. ## Personnel and Aircraft Information The pilot, aged 40, held a commercial pilot license with 504 hours 51 minutes of total flight time and 25 hours 34 minutes on type. The aircraft, manufactured in 1986, had a provisional registration certificate dated 17 October 2008 and an airworthiness certificate valid until 13 November 2009. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had 3,123 hours 50 minutes of total flight time and 966 landings, while the engine had 874 hours. Both the aircraft and engine were maintained according to requirements, with 22 hours remaining until the next maintenance interval. ## Emergency Response The pilot secured the aircraft and confirmed the other occupants were uninjured. All three occupants exited the aircraft under their own power and were collected by emergency services on the runway. The aircraft was towed to a hangar at the airport, which reopened to traffic around 09:30 local time.