# NTSB CEN09CA118: Socata TBM 700, N70LR, Clovis, NM, December 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 22, 2008, 17:45 local (Dec 23, 2008, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Clovis, NM - Coordinates: 34.421665, -103.074165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4217&lon=-103.0742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73184/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to complete the before-landing checklist, which led to his failure to lower the gear before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 418 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,558 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [All aircraft, 585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was approaching the non-towered airport from the north, making a straight-in approach to runway 22, and was using the autopilot while still nine miles out. There was a 15-knot headwind and the airplane was still fast and a little high when 4.2 miles out, but the pilot reduced the power to zero percent and he "reserved" lowering the gear because he was still at 185 knots. The pilot said "the approach felt normal, the next thing I knew we were sliding down the runway". The airplane slid to a stop on the right side of the runway with the landing gear still retracted. There were no injuries to the four persons on board, but substantial damage to the left rear spar and center spar carrythrough and aft fuselage structure. ## Factual narrative The pilot was approaching the non-towered airport from the north making a straight in approach to runway 22 and was using the autopilot when still nine miles out. There was a 15 knot headwind and the airplane was still fast and a little high when 4.2 miles out, but the pilot reduced the power to zero percent and he "reserved" lowering the gear because he was still at 185 knots. The pilot said "the approach felt normal, the next thing I knew we were sliding down the runway". The airplane slid to a stop on the right side of the runway with the landing gear still retracted. There were no injuries to the four persons on board, but substantial damage to the left rear spar and center spar carrythrough and aft fuselage structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: N70LR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SOCATA TBM 700 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 225 - Airframe hours: 840 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-64 700 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Caterer's Leasing - Registered owner: Caterer's Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2008 - Departed: KCAO, Clayton, NM - Destination: KCVN, Clovis, NM - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: CVN, Clovis Municipal Airport, runway 22, 6,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 5,510 total, 525 in this make and model, 5,255 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KCVN ## 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 20081222852989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081222852989A), Dec 22, 2008: Socata TBM700, Clovis, NM, Substantial damage. On December 22, 2008, at approximately 1745 local time, N70LR landed on runway 22 at Clovis Municipal Airport (cvn), Clovis, new Mexico, with the landing gear… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.