# NTSB ERA21LA316: Socata TBM-700 C2, N48UM, Mount Pleasant, SC, July 27, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 27, 2021, 11:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place: Mount Pleasant, SC · off end of runway 35
- Coordinates: 32.903011, -79.78419
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9030&lon=-79.7842&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA316
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103631/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103631
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA316

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to continue an unstable approach, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TBM-700 C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=8682006), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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 C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8682006), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TBM-700 C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8682006), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TBM-700 C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8682006), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Socata TBM-700 C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=8682006), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated his visual approach to landing was “uncomfortably fast.” The airplane crossed over the threshold about 30 to 40 knots above the approach speed recommended in the Pilot’s Information Manual (PIM). He applied brakes, but the runway was wet and slick. Unable to stop on the remaining runway, the pilot attempted to abort the landing by moving the throttle from beta to full, but the throttle “stuck.” The airplane subsequently overran the runway and came to rest about 325 ft past the end of the runway. The engine mounts and left wing sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed all engine and flight controls were intact from the cockpit controls to their respective control surfaces and functioned normally. In addition, examination of the brakes revealed no anomalies. The throttle lever had no binding and operated smoothly through its full range of motion. The flaps were found in the takeoff position, not in the landing position as they should have been for landing. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to the PIM, when configured correctly and using the recommended approach speed of 80 knots, the landing distance on a wet runway would have been about 2,700 ft of the 3,700 ft available.

## Factual narrative

On July 27, 2021, about 1105 eastern daylight time, a Socata TBM-700 C2, N48UM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Mount Pleasant Regional Airport-Faison Field (LRO) Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The private pilot and five passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, his visual approach was “uncomfortably fast.” The airplane crossed over the threshold of the 3,700-ft-long runway at 125 to 130 knots and touched down on “the first 1/3 to the middle 1/3 of the runway.” He applied brakes, but the runway was wet and slick. Unable to stop on the remaining runway, the pilot attempted to move the throttle from beta to full to abort the landing, but the throttle “stuck.” The airplane subsequently came to rest about 325 ft past the end of the runway. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site and conducted an initial examination of the wreckage, the engine mounts and left wing sustained substantial damage. The flaps were found in the “TAKEOFF” position. All engine and flight controls were intact from the cockpit controls to their respective control surfaces and functioned normally. In addition, examination of the brakes revealed no anomalies. The throttle lever had no binding and operated smoothly through its full range of motion. A pilot’s abbreviated checklist, a quick reference performance guide, and a laminated checklist were located on the airplane, but no Pilot’s Information Manual (PIM) was on board the airplane. According to the PIM, with the flaps in the landing position, the landing distance on a wet runway would have been about 2,700 ft; the PIM recommended an approach speed of 80 knots and a touchdown speed of 65 knots. The pilot’s reported approach speed was about 30 to 40 knots over the PIM recommended approach speed. The pilot reported in the "Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation" section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) that "when it was apparent that the approach was not stabilized, I should have performed a go-around.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48UM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48UM), registered now, S/N 299, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TBM-700 C2
- Registry model: [Socata TBM-700 C2](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tbm-700-c2) (registry code 8682006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-64) (registry code 52070, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 299
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 3685
- Engines: Pratt-Whitney PT6A-64 700 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 2020
- Departed: BIV, Holland, MI
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LRO, Mt Pleasant Rgnl-Faison Fld, runway 17/35, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,609 total, 212 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 82 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LRO
- METAR: METAR KLRO 271455Z AUTO VRB03G10KT 6SM BR FEW014 FEW018 SCT075 30/28 A3000 RMK AO2

## 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 20210727013359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210727013359A), Jul 27, 2021: Socata TBM-700 C2, Mt. Pleasant, SC, Substantial damage. The pilot set up his approach to runway 35 with the power set to 5%, gear down, and flaps set to takeoff. He crossed the threshold of runway 35 indicating…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103631. 6.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12657779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12686028&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=JRH%20inspector%20statement%20SIGNED-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from pim (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12658195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20PIM-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 996 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12657902&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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