Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, May 7, 2015 (2 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on May 7, 2015 near Spokane-Felts Field, Washington, United States with 2 fatalities....
- Date: May 7, 2015
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Spokane-Felts Field, Washington, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: NTSB: the mechanic's incorrect installation of two aileron cables and the inadequate functional checks of the aileron system by the mechanic and the pilot, which prevented proper roll control from the cockpit and led to the pilot's loss of control in flight. Contributing was the self induced pressure to finish the work that day.
On 7 May 2015 a Piper PA 46 350P Malibu Mirage (N962DA) departed Spokane Felts Field on a post maintenance test flight. Shortly after takeoff it began rolling right, the pilot reported a heavy right aileron, and the airplane crashed into the river beside the runway. The NTSB found that the mechanic had installed two aileron cables incorrectly, and both occupants were killed and the airplane was destroyed.