# Accident 20031227037729A: Socata TB21, Spruce Pine, NC, December 27, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 27, 2003, 11:05 local time
- Place: Spruce Pine, NC
- Airport: Avery Morrison
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9444° N, 81.9956° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9444&lon=-81.9956&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1879S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1879S-2004-08-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Socata TB21 (registry code 8680697, https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TB21
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 920 total, 600 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA059) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031227037729A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON DECEMBER 27, 2003 AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AVERY COUNTY AIRPORT IN SPRUCE PINE, NORTH CAROLINA, THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACCOUNT OF THIS INSPECTOR'S ON SCENE INVESTIGATION. A SERIES OF THIRTY-ONE (31) PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN SEQUENTIALLY BY THIS INSPECTOR FROM THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT'S RESTING PLACE FORTY-SEVEN (47) FEET FROM THE WEST EDGE OF RUNWAY 34 AT AVERY COUNTY AIRPORT, TO THE FIRST POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE (SKID) MARKINGS ON THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 34. THERE WERE POSITIVE TIRE SKID MARKS ON RUNWAY 34'S HARD SURFACE CONTINUING ONTO THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY, CONTINUING INTO A COMBINATION OF THICH SHRUBS AND SMALL CALIBER TREES TO THE AIRCRAFT'S RESTING PLACE. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, THERE WAS A SMALL ENGINE FIRE WITH CONSIDERABLE SMOKE DAMAGE ON THE ENGINE COWLING, LEFT WING ROOT AND POINT OF ATTACHMENT CONTINUING AFT OF THE WINGS LEADING EDGE. THERE WAS A PENETRATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WINDSHIELD BY TREE BRANCHES. THE LEFT WING TIP (FAIRING, NAVIGATION LIGHT AND HOUSING) WAS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE BRUSH AND TREES AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE NOSE WHEEL LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS RESTING TWELVE (12) FEET SOUTH OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS LYING UNDER THE AIRCRAFT AFT OF THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF IN AN OUTBOARD DIRECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON LANDING, SKIDDED OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE GRASS WITH THE LEFT WING CONTACTING THE THICK BRUSH ADJACENT TO THE GRASS AREA. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TURNED SOME EIGHTY TO NINETY DEGREES TO RUNWAY 34 AND SLID SIDEWAYS FOR APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-FIVE (35) FEET PRIOR TO STOPPING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN APPROXIMATE FIFTEEN-DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, EIGHTY TO NINETY DEGREES TO THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE AT AN ELEVATION APPROXIMATELY SIX TO SEVEN LOWER THAN THAT OF THE RUNWAY SURFACE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL04LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA059), Dec 27, 2003: Socata TB21 (N1879S), Spruce Pine, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate flare, and his failure to maintain directional control. The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and trees are a contributing factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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