Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, May 28, 2000 (3 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on May 28, 2000 near Hawthorne, California, United States with 3 fatalities. Cause:...
- Date: May 28, 2000
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Hawthorne, California, United States
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Partial power loss from water contamination in the fuel, missed during preflight, followed by a stall during a steep turn back toward the runway.
A Piper Malibu departed Hawthorne with a partial loss of power caused by water in the fuel, which the pilot had not found during preflight. On the takeoff roll the pilot tried to return to the runway, turned at low speed and stalled into a steep, nose-down spiral. The aircraft hit the ground and was largely consumed by fire. All three occupants were killed.