Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Aug 4, 2002 (3 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on August 4, 2002 near Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States with 3 fatalities. Cause:...
- Date: August 4, 2002
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Engine failure from a fatigue fracture of the crankshaft, with the pilot's failure to maintain best glide airspeed and a stall/spin during the forced landing cited as causes.
A Piper Malibu lost engine power at 19,000 feet and the pilot chose to glide toward Southwest Michigan Regional Airport. The aircraft stalled and spun while descending on final, crashing about 1.1 nm from the runway. Teardown found a fatigue-cracked crankshaft, a part number with a history of similar failures.