# NTSB CEN23LA138: Socata TB21, N789TB, Eden Prairie, MN, March 12, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 11, 2023, 21:33 local (Mar 12, 2023, 03:33 UTC) - Place: Eden Prairie, MN - Coordinates: 44.829148, -93.473143 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8291&lon=-93.4731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MPLS FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106905/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106905 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA138 ## Probable cause The pilot’s continued flight into icing conditions in an airplane that was not equipped for icing, which led to structural icing, subsequent loss of airplane control and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Socata TB21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TB21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TB21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: drizzle/mist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035050): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Socata TB21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035050/cases.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035050/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Socata TB21, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Socata TB21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TB21, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Socata TB21, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Socata TB21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=8680697), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a night cross country flight, the airplane encountered icing conditions while on an instrument approach. The pilot observed about 4 inches of ice had formed on the wing, running about one foot aft. The pilot reported he put the landing gear down about 5 miles from the runway. The pilot continued the approach and stated he broke out of the clouds about 300-400 ft agl and had “minimal control.” The airplane impacted snow-covered ground and came to rest about a half mile from the runway. The airplane was destroyed by a post-impact fire. In an email, the pilot stated the “airplane was in good shape.” At the time of the accident there was an icing AIRMET that covered the location of the accident. The Socata TB21 Pilot Information Manual states “Flight into known icing conditions is prohibited.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N789TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N789TB), registered now, S/N 1919, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SOCATA TB21 - Registry model: [Socata TB21](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb21) (registry code 8680697) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1919 - Year built: 1999 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FRM, Fairmont, MN - Destination: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FCM, Flying Cloud - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,999 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 2,989 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Icing: Rime - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KFCM - METAR: KFCM 120345Z AUTO 15008KT 3SM BR OVC005 M02/M02 A2988 RMK AO2 I1002 T10221022 ## 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 20230311004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230311004539A), Mar 11, 2023: Socata TB21, Eden Prairie, MN, Destroyed. On March 11th, 2023 at approximately 2135 central time, a Socata TB20, crashed while on approach to runway 10R at kfcm. The aircraft was not certified for… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106905. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15277054&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Pilot%20Statement%20PDF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15277146&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Miscellaneous information (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15312229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Socata%20Icing%20AFM-Rel.pdf - Correspondence (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15346785&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15371993&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Icing%20AIRMET-Rel.pdf 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.