The pilot was on a training flight when, during the third landing at the airport in Albuquerque, N.M., he felt the Piper PA46-500TP pull to the right and start vibrating upon touchdown. He attempted to correct to the left, but the airplane continued to the right, exited the runway, and then turned back to the left before stopping.
The right aileron was substantially damaged during the event.
The right tire was found deflated.
Examination of the deflated tire found it was worn with little remaining tread. The exact location of a leak could not be determined due to damage to the tire.
The tire was installed about 20 months and 375 flight hours prior to the accident. The number of landings on the tire was not determined.
The pilot told investigators he thought there was sufficient tread remaining on the tire prior to the flight and he intended to replace the tire during the next annual inspection.
It is likely the worn tire deflated prior to the accident landing due to excessive wear.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s loss of control during landing due to a flat tire. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to replace the worn tire in a timely manner.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This February 2024 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
A couple years years back, it was a beautiful spring evening, so I decided to roll the trusty C-150 out and my wife and I departed my grass strip for a 45 minute pleasure flight. After flying by a couple of local rancher friends fields, we decided to shoot a touch and go at the municipal field about 25 miles from our home strip. After making the approach with a slight right crosswind, I touched down on the right main, and as soon as the left main touched, it began vibrating badly. I immediately went to full power and was airborne a few seconds later. My wife looked at me and asked what the heck was going on, so I told her we had a flat on the left main tire. I flew back to our ranch strip and flew a really slow approach, touched down on the right main, and as soon as the left main touched, we were stopped. Grass is very forgiving. There was no obvious damage to the tire. As we walked the runway on the way to the hangar, we came upon a set of deer sheds, and one of the sheds had a point gone. I found it inside the tire and tube later. Since we had flown out of our strip the day before, it never occurred to me to do a FOD walkdown before flight. It was a learning experience!
I wonder if this guy is an airline pilot. I remember seeing wear like that from guys who were accustomed to flying the big birds; they’d crab them in, but not kick the rudder hard enough, so they’d scrub the tires badly.
He’s not an ATP – and the piece de resistance – his instructor was on board. Four eyes and they couldn’t see the tire was ready for the bin? Sounds like some remedial training for both needed, post haste.
Much the same story, My RV-7A had a left main flat at some point during the takeoff (I assume) and a noted pull to the left on landing. Fortunately, only minor damage to the fairing on that wheel. My tires/ tubes were in good shape to start and I never discovered the source of the flat.
I had a “blow out” on my right main upon landing my 7KCAB Citabria. I had replaced both tires and tube about a month prior. No incidents getting off the runway. Upon replacing the tire I found a fork stuck in it! Yes, a metal dinner fork! How it found it’s way onto the runway is a mystery. Whole new meaning to the phrase, ” fork in the road (runway)’! And yes, a new tire and expensive tire tube!
There is no excuse for flying any aircraft with tires in this condition! There are no wheel pants to contend with and all tires are readily inspectable during preflight!
The tube leaks, that’s why the valve is on lt.
and its how we get air into it…!
I had a flat left main on landing after replacing the main tires, but reused the tubes. [ they cost more than the tires !].
The tube had a pinch crack on the sidewall at a seam.
Fortunately the wheel pant kept the tire on the rim and I got stopped just as the left main went off the edge of the runway.
So, I bought 2 new tubes… and back flying again, with new knowledge..