What happened
While performing an approach to land at the airport, a Piper Malibu PA-46-310P was observed by witnesses to be flying in an unstable manner. Observers noted a white vapor-like trail emanating from the aircraft's left wing. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft executed a sudden, steep bank to the left, during which the nose pitched upward before the plane disappeared behind a line of trees. Following the disappearance, a crash was heard and smoke was visible from the site.
Findings
Post-accident investigations determined that there were no malfunctions related to the engine, propeller, or flight control systems. However, investigators discovered that the left inboard fuel cap was missing from its filler port; the cap was later located in the grass adjacent to the runway. According to the JetProp LLC, JetProp DLX Supplemental Flight Manual, pilots are required to visually check and secure the inboard fuel tank cap during normal procedures. While the fuel cap and filler port showed no mechanical defects, the absence of the secured fuel cap was a key finding during the investigation.