# Accident 20091023022359A: Socata TB200, Edwards, CA, October 23, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 23, 2009, 17:15 local time
- Place: Edwards, CA
- Airport: Edwards Afb
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9164° N, 117.8625° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9164&lon=-117.8625&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3052N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3052N-2014-09-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Socata TB200 (registry code 8680750, https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TB200
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 88 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091023022359A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 1715 PDT ON OCTOBER 23, 2009, SOCATA TB-200 N3952N OPERATED BY THE EDWARDS AFB AERO CLUB SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A HARD LANDING ON RUNWAY 24 AT KEDW.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS A NEWLY CERTIFICATED PILOT WITH APPROXIMATELY 88 HOURS TOTAL TIME AND APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS IN TYPE.  BEFORE THE FLIGHT HE OBTAINED A STANDARD WEATHER BRIEFING VIA DUATS AND THEN FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH AFSS.  HIS PLANNED DESTINATION WAS KTSP IN TEHACHAPI, CA.  THE PILOT STATED IN AN INTERVIEW ON OCTOBER 27, 2009, THAT HE CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT WALK AROUND INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT PER THE TB-200 PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK.  EDWARDS AERO CLUB CHECKLISTS WHERE USED FOR THE BEFORE START AND BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKS.  THESE CHECKS INCLUDED VISUALLY ENSURING THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WWAS CLOSED AND LATCHED.  WHEN ASKED IF HE HAD PHYSICALLY CHECKED THE SECURITY OF THE DOOR PRIOR TO TAKEOFF HE REPLIED THAT HE HAD.  THE PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO MAKE A NORMAL TAKE OFF FROM RUNWAY 24.  SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FT. AGL THE MAIN CABIN DOOR SWUNG OPEN.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE DOOR HANDLE TO CLOSE IT SO HE ELECTED TO LAND BACK ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY.  DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE SUN OBSCURING HIS VISION AND THE DISTRACTION OF THE OPEN DOOR, THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING ON RUNWAY 24.  THE AIRFRAME SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE INCLUDING A BENT WING SPAR AND ENGINE MOUNT.

## 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 WPR10CA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA037), Oct 24, 2009: Socata TB200 (N3052N), Edwards, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the sunglare.

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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