# NTSB ERA15CA065: Socata TB 20 Trinidad, N85AV, Hilton Head Island, SC, November 26, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 25, 2014, 21:30 local (Nov 26, 2014, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Hilton Head Island, SC
- Coordinates: 32.224445, -80.697502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2244&lon=-80.6975&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90442/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90442
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA065

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent selection of an incorrect frequency, which resulted in his inability to activate the airport lighting, and his subsequent decision to continue the approach in dark night conditions despite having not positively identified the runway environment.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=8680695), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-IFR final approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8680695), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8680695), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting an instrument approach for landing in night instrument meteorological conditions. After receiving the approach clearance from air traffic control, the pilot tuned his communication radio to the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and attempted to activate the airport lighting by repeatedly pressing the push-to-talk switch. As the pilot continued to descend on the approach, he observed the approach path indicator lights, but could not see the runway edge lights, as they were not illuminated. He again attempted to activate the runway lights, to no avail. The pilot elected to continue the approach, which he described as "high and long," and during the landing roll, the airplane ran off the end of the runway and contacted an airport sign, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane had touched down on a taxiway, and came to rest in a grassy area between the taxiway and the runway. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and believed he had incorrectly tuned the CTAF, which resulted in his inability to activate the airport lighting during the approach. Following the accident, a test of the airport's pilot-controlled lighting system revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was conducting an instrument approach for landing in night instrument meteorological conditions. After receiving the approach clearance from air traffic control, the pilot tuned his communication radio to the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and attempted to activate the airport lighting by repeatedly pressing the push-to-talk switch. As the pilot continued to descend on the approach, he observed the approach path indicator lights, but could not see the runway edge lights, as they were not illuminated. He again attempted to activate the runway lights, to no avail. The pilot elected to continue the approach, which he described as "high and long," and during the landing roll, the airplane ran off the end of the runway and contacted an airport sign, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane had touched down on a taxiway, and came to rest in a grassy area between the taxiway and the runway. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and believed he had incorrectly tuned the CTAF, which resulted in his inability to activate the airport lighting during the approach. Following the accident, a test of the airport's pilot-controlled lighting system revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85AV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85AV-2015-08-03), registration cancelled 2015-08-03, S/N 458, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TB 20 TRINIDAD (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-20-trinidad) (registry code 8680695) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 458
- Year built: 1985
- Airframe hours: 2393
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert Herman
- Registered owner: Flying Country Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2014
- Departed: TYS, Knoxville, TN
- Destination: HXD, Hilton Head Island, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HXD, Hilton Head Island, runway 21, 4,300 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 808 total, 37 in this make and model, 725 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KHXD

## 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 20141125022079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141125022079A), Nov 25, 2014: Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD, Hilton Head, SC, Substantial damage. During landing at Hilton Head airport (hxd) at night, the pilot could not get the airport lighting to come on. He thought he had a good view of the airport and…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90442. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record – FAA (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Wing damage from aft (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Wing%20damage%20from%20aft%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Wing damage from front (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Wing%20damage%20from%20front%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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