Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Oct 10, 1997
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on October 10, 1997 near Berdoues, Gers, France with no fatalities. Cause: Pilot's late...
- Date: October 10, 1997
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Berdoues, Gers, France
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Pilot's late reaction and loss of visual reference on final approach, with low speed and high pitch attitude, after the approach path had been flown too far to the right.
The owner-pilot flew a visual circuit at Berdoues after a three-hour IFR flight. On final he lost sight of the runway at low speed and high pitch, and the right wing struck trees about 80 m short of the threshold. The aircraft hit the ground hard and was destroyed; all five occupants got out safely.