# Accident 20090827048779A: Socata TB20, Pavo, GA, August 27, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 27, 2009, 11:00 local time
- Place: Pavo, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.9417° N, 83.7225° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9417&lon=-83.7225&mi=10
- Aircraft: N654GT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N654GT-2014-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Socata TB20 (registry code 8680602, https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TB20
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 297 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09FA487](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA487) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090827048779A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 27, 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00AM EASTERN STANDARD TIME, AIRCRAFT N654GT PILOTED BY ROBERT F MORELAND AND PASSENGER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TAKEOFF FROM MONTGOMERY, AL, EN ROUTE TO NORTH PERRY AIRPORT, FL. AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00AM EST, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3500 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED INTO A LEVEL 5 THUNDERSTORM RESULTING INTO AN OVERSTRESS, CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO FAIL IN A POSITIVE LIFT DIRECTION.  THE LEFT WING SPAR FRACTURES INDICATE DUCTILE OVERLOAD. THE LEFT WING BENT UPWARD IN A POSITIVE LIFT ANGLE OF 28 DEGREES, THE UPPER SPAR CAP FRACTURED, CAUSING THE COMPLETE LOSS OF THE LEFT WING.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO BREAK-UP IN-FLIGHT LEAVING A DEBRIS FIELD STRETCHING 1,213 FEET, AT A HEADING OF 256 DEGREES, CAUSING FATAL INJURIES TO BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER.  THE RIGHT WING STILL HAD THE CO-PILOT (PASSENGER) SEAT AND SEAT TRACKS ATTACHED TO THE WING.  THE PROPELLER SHAFT SHEERED.  SHAFT INDICATED DUCTILE OVERLOAD FRACTURE.  THE ENGINE WAS STILLED SECURED TO THE ENGINE MOUNT/FRAME. ENGINE MOUNT/FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE FIRE WALL.  THE COCKPIT SECTION SEPARATED FROM FUSELAGE JUST AFT OF PILOT AND CO-PILOTS.  THE COCKPIT ROLLED INTO A BALL UPON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.  THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION.  BOTH LANDING GEAR ASSYMBLIES WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THIER RESPECTIVE WINGS AND WERE DOWN AND LOCKED.  THE FLAP LEVER WAS IN THE UP POSITION.  AFT PART OF THE FUSELAGE IS SHEERED AT FRAME 7, 4 FEET BEHIND CARGO COMPARTMENT AFT BULKHEAD.  THE EMPENNAGE IS SHEERED AT FRAME 8 AND IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER.  RUDDER SEPARATED FROM VERTICAL STABILIZER.  THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER/ELEVATOR SEPARATED AT FRAME 9, STILL HAVING FRAME 9 ATTACHED.  THE CONTROL TUBES INDICATE DUCTILE OVERLOAD FRACTURES AND INDICATE FRAME 9 WAS TWISTING TO THE RIGHT AT SEPARATION.

## 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 ERA09FA487](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA487), Aug 27, 2009: Socata TB20 (N654GT), Pavo, GA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, with embedded intense thunderstorms, heavy rain, and severe to extreme turbulence, resulting in an in-flight separation…

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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