Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Jun 2, 1996 (4 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on June 2, 1996 near Aitkin, Minnesota, United States with 4 fatalities. Cause: The pilot...
- Date: June 2, 1996
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Aitkin, Minnesota, United States
- Fatalities: 4
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot continued flight into known adverse weather and exceeded the airframe's design stress limits. Thunderstorms, hail, wind gusts and the over-maximum-gross-weight condition contributed.
A Piper PA-46 Malibu owned by Home Oil Stations was cruising at 17,000 feet when the pilot ran into ice, rain and thunderstorms and asked ATC for help getting around the weather. The aircraft entered a rapid descent and broke up in the air over Aitkin, Minnesota. All four occupants were killed. The airplane was about 548 pounds over its maximum takeoff weight.