The field was VFR, with 10 miles visibility under a 2,900-foot broken ceiling and a 3,500-foot overcast ceiling. Just after 11 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2008, a Piper PA46-500TP Malibu Meridian crashed on short final to Runway 16 at Marshfield, Wis. Piper’s Malibu Mirage and Meridian are very similar aircraft with a minimum of changes to accommodate burning jet fuel. The Malibu was and is hands-down beautiful and has a handsome six-place cabin but it lacks the useful load to be a real six-place airplane. The PA46-310P (1984-1988) came with the TCM TSIO520-BE, 310 HP only. In a grandiose act, Piper's then-president M. Stuart Millar promised first-class airline travel to all inconvenienced Malibu owners. In 1994 an STC for the TCM TSIO550-C engine was completed. Some of the pressurized piston accidents were caused by engine problems in the Malibu and engine and systems problems in the P210. Malibu: The problem is the engine(s). The Piper Malibu/Meridian has a troubling history of engine fires, engine failures, landing gear problems, and generally weak construction for a plane that goes up to 25,000′ (Malibu; overworked piston engine with two turbochargers) or 30,000′ (Meridian; same plane with a turboprop engine). ... and my reluctant passenger was obviously satisfied. With the two engines sitting side by side you can't tell the difference. The aircraft was registered to a trustee, the Southern Aircraft Consultancy in Bungay, Suffolk, United Kingdom. Doesn't seem to matter whether Conti 520 or Lycoming 550. The pilot and both passengers were killed. However, it seems that both (early) versions suffer from more-than-average engine problems, the -350 mostly having trouble with … (Early Malibu's would do 195 KT on only 14 gph.) The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-46 Malibu, a six-seat type equipped with a single piston engine, registered in the United States as N264DB, serial number 46-8408037. The aircraft was manufactured in 1984. But in the 'Bu you gotta … 10% of the fleet has had engine out. Winds were 3 to 5 knots, aligned with the runway. If the engines are a problem, it's much less sexy paying for the fuel and the OHs for two. The Piper Malibu may well be your choice if your flying will be high, a long range is needed in great comfort and between well equipped and serviced aerodromes. The handling qualities are nothing special and the ride in turbulence is a bit bouncy. The Malibu had engine problems from the start and a Lycoming engine took the place of the original Continental. The Cessna 210 is a brute and can also take you high whilst being well loaded with people or freight. Usually it is bad news if a plane has a reputation for being flaky. The early years had lots of problems… On a superficial level, this was perceived as an act of magnanimity. In fairness, the PA-46 is extremely reliable, but nothing beats a turbine. 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