# NTSB ERA10CA155: Socata TBM 700, N700ZR, Gaithersburg, MD, March 1, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2010, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Gaithersburg, MD
- Coordinates: 39.168334, -77.166114
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1683&lon=-77.1661&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75427/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75427
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA155

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while performing a go-around.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TBM 700, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8682000), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TBM 700, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=8682000), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TBM 700, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8682000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Socata TBM 700, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8682000), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TBM 700, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8682000), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the single-engine turboprop was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight and cancelled his IFR flight plan after being cleared for a visual approach to the destination airport. He flew a left traffic pattern for runway 32, a 4,202-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane crossed the runway threshold at 81 knots and touched down normally, with the stall warning horn sounding. The airplane subsequently drifted left and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder input; however, the airplane continued to drift to the left side of the runway. The pilot then initiated a go-around and cognizant of risk of torque roll at low speeds did not apply full power. The airplane climbed to about 10 feet above the ground. At that time, the airplane was in a 20-degree left bank and the pilot applied full right aileron input to correct. The airplane then descended in a left turn, the pilot retarded the throttle, and braced for impact. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane traveled about 100 feet off the left side of the runway, nosed down in mud, and came to rest in trees. Examination of the wreckage by the inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The reported wind, about the time of the accident, was from 310 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the single-engine turboprop was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight and cancelled his IFR flight plan after being cleared for a visual approach to the destination airport. He flew a left traffic pattern for runway 32, a 4,202-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane crossed the runway threshold at 81 knots and touched down normally, with the stall warning horn sounding. The airplane subsequently drifted left and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder input; however, the airplane continued to drift to the left side of the runway. The pilot then initiated a go-around and cognizant of risk of torque roll at low speeds did not apply full power. The airplane climbed to about 10 feet above the ground. At that time, the airplane was in a 20-degree left bank and the pilot applied full right aileron input to correct. The airplane then descended in a left turn, the pilot retarded the throttle, and braced for impact. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane traveled about 100 feet off the left side of the runway, nosed down in mud, and came to rest in trees. Examination of the wreckage by the inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The reported wind, about the time of the accident, was from 310 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N700ZR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N700ZR-2017-02-21), registration cancelled 2017-02-21, S/N 87 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TBM 700
- Registry model: [Socata TBM 700](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tbm-700) (registry code 8682000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 87
- Airframe hours: 1968
- Engines: P&W PT6A SER 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Michael Rosenberg
- Registered owner: Nova Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2009, 137 hours before
- Departed: IGX, Chapel Hill, NC
- Destination: GAI, Gaithersburg, MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GAI, Montgomery Country Airpark, runway 32, 4,202 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 4, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 4,215 total, 1,240 in this make and model, 4,080 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: GAI

## 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 20100301029749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100301029749A), Mar 1, 2010: Socata TBM 700, Gaithersburg, MD, Destroyed. On March 01, 2010, between 17:15 and 17:30, aircraft N700ZR was piloted by [privacy data omitted] was landing at gai. [privacy data omitted] Was landing on…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75427. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF
- Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- Photo - Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.

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