curious about the PA-46

mooneyguy

mooneyguy

been around forever
There was a crash of a PA-46 on approach to KAUS today. I'm not trying to speculate the cause or anything, it just interested me since we had one crash at KSAT over a year ago. It was very similar weather low ceilings, and visibility in both crashes. the weather is just nasty here today.
(current weather but been pretty much the same all day)
KAUS 072153Z 01011KT 1 1/4SM -RA BR OVC006 09/09 A3001 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 3/4 CIG 003V009 SLP166 P0002 T00890089

I'm just curious if there's any PA-46 pilots here, who would like to share their experience flying the plane. I have never had the opportunity to fly one.


Here is today's story on the crash. Unfortunately It appears two dead, one man, one child, how awful...RIP


http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/breaking_news/small-plane-crashes-in-lockhart-at-183
 
It shouldn't matter the airplane, those conditions SHOULD be easily handled by any competent instrument rated pilot.
 
Absolutely agree about the Instrument skills, I was curious (and still am) about the handling characteristics of the PA46. each plane seems to have it's own "personality"

For instance, I had a guy who went from a C150 to a Mooney M20F. By the time He called me he already had 10 hours or so in it, and the guy was still so far behind it was terrible. He was trying to fly it like a C150, obviously it was not working out very well for him.
 
Man I flew with a lot of folks around Austin/Lockhart and that name is eerily familiar. I don't think I ever flew with him but am almost sure I've met him around the FBOs at some point. Terrible to hear that his child was on board. RIP.
 
mhcasey said:
As to the question...I've got maybe 15 hours in a PA-46 and thought it was a really great handling airplane. When the weather is bad I doubt that aircraft type is often a contributing factor unless the PIC has low time in type.
Click to expand...

I agree, handles great and a decently easy plane to slow down if you know what you are doing. high gear and flap speeds, and also has speed brakes with no limit.
 
I question the pilot's recent IMC experience, this shouldn't have happened,...
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PA-46 handles really nice. All versions, but especially the Meridian. It's fast and climbs really great. The meridian maybe handles a little too good for your average rich guy slash instrument rated private pilot.
 
This pilot was competent, N600YE was his second Meridian. I landed and departed in 300 overcast and snow today in a Meridian. The airplane handels poor weather better than other turbo prop aircraft I have flown. With an unrestricted climb, it will be at FL280 in 17 minutes. There is very little surface for ice to accumlate on that is not covered by a de-ice boot and, down low, 60% power will hold 188kts (redline), so there is plenty of additional power if do you have to carry a load of ice. However, it is still a booted airplane, so ice is defiently a major concern. It looks like the temps in AUS were fairly warm, so ice may not have been a factor.

The panels on all versions of the Meridian make it a very good IFR platform. N600YE had the Avidyne panel with the Magic autopilot, it is a very good setup. The newest Meridians have the G1000 panel with Synthetic Vision. I fly all three panels and would not hesitate to fly in the weather that was around Austin today.

Alex.
 
CK said:
This pilot was competent, N600YE was his second Meridian. I landed and departed in 300 overcast and snow today in a Meridian. The airplane handels poor weather better than other turbo prop aircraft I have flown. With an unrestricted climb, it will be at FL280 in 17 minutes. There is very little surface for ice to accumlate on that is not covered by a de-ice boot and, down low, 60% power will hold 188kts (redline), so there is plenty of additional power if do you have to carry a load of ice. However, it is still a booted airplane, so ice is defiently a major concern. It looks like the temps in AUS were fairly warm, so ice may not have been a factor.

The panels on all versions of the Meridian make it a very good IFR platform. N600YE had the Avidyne panel with the Magic autopilot, it is a very good setup. The newest Meridians have the G1000 panel with Synthetic Vision. I fly all three panels and would not hesitate to fly in the weather that was around Austin today.

Alex.
Click to expand...
In other words, all the knee-jerk accident diagnoses seem to be wrong.
 
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