Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Feb 13, 2021 (1 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on February 13, 2021 near Tehachapi, California, United States with 1 fatality. Cause: The...
- Date: February 13, 2021
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Tehachapi, California, United States
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot's encounter with mountain wave activity and severe turbulence led to a loss of control. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing.
A Piper PA 46 Matrix flown by a pilot without an instrument rating left Camarillo for Mammoth Lakes and flew northeast for about 32 minutes before entering a tightening left spiral. It struck steep terrain near Tehachapi and a post impact fire followed. The NTSB found no mechanical fault and concluded the pilot met mountain wave turbulence in strong winds.