# NTSB ATL93LA163: Aerospatiale TB21, N2528D, Spruce Pine, NC, September 26, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 26, 1993, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Spruce Pine, NC
- Coordinates: 35.909389, -82.060729 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9094&lon=-82.0607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3267
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3267/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA163

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION IN DELAYING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT AND IN ATTEMPTING A GO AROUND WITH FULL FLAP EXTENSION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE DOWNSLOPING RUNWAY WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT STOP ON THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND WHILE FLAPS WERE FULLY EXTENDED THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND SETTLED UPRIGHT IN A NEARBY FIELD.

## Factual narrative

On September 26, 1993, at 1100 eastern daylight time, an Aerospatiale TB21, N2528D, collided with trees during an aborted landing attempt at Avery County Airport, Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed and the occupants on board the airplane were not injured. The flight departed Asheville, North Carolina, at 1030 hours.

According to the pilot, both wind socks, one located on each end of the runway showed the winds as calm. Therefore, he elected to land on runway 16 which sloped down 43 feet from the approach end to the departure end. When the airplane touched down on the first third of the runway, the pilot realized that he would not have sufficient runway to stop the airplane. At this point, he elected to abort the landing attempt and climb. The airplane collided with trees about 300 yards from the departure end of runway 16. There were no mechanical problems reported with the airplane. The pilot attempted a climb out before full landing flaps were retracted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2528D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2528D-1994-03-29), registration cancelled 1994-03-29, S/N 861 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE TB21
- Registry model: [Socata TB21](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb21) (registry code 8680697) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 861
- Airframe hours: 360
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AB1AD 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lipson Aviation Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 1993, 20 hours before
- Departed: AVL, ASHEVILLE, NC
- Destination: 7A8
- Airport: 7A8, Avery Morris Airport, runway 16, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 715 total, 110 in this make and model, 605 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 35 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930926036259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930926036259A), Sep 26, 1993: Socata TB21, Spruce Pine, NC, Destroyed. Overshooting downhill runway began go around. Struck trees on climbout. Failed to timely raise full flaps.

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.

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