# NTSB ERA25LA099: Socata TBM 700, N417KG, Wilmington, NC, January 14, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 14, 2025, 19:15 UTC - Place: Wilmington, NC - Coordinates: 34.269851, -77.903948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2699&lon=-77.9039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199578 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199578/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199578 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA099 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a wing strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TBM 700, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8682000), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TBM 700, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=8682000), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was attempting to make a soft landing for his passengers, lost too much airspeed in the landing flare, and the right wing stalled. The airplane landed hard and the right wing struck the runway resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar and right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N417KG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N417KG), registered now, S/N 579, built 2011 (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 PT6A66D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a66d) (registry code 52281, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 579 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 1909 - Engines: P&W PT6A66D 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2024, 181 hours before - Departed: KORH, Worcester, MA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ILM, Wilmington Intl, runway 35, 7,754 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 7, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 821 total, 452 in this make and model, 821 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: ILM - METAR: KILM 141953Z 30011KT 10SM CLR 12/M11 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP225 T01221106 ## 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 20250114000479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250114000479A), Jan 14, 2025: Socata TBM 700, Wilmington, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft was cleared to land runway 35 at ilm, experienced a hard landing near the intersection of taxiway bravo. The right wing of the aircraft was observed… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199578. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18373682&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20revised%202-24-25_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18339512&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18339131&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.