# NTSB ERA26LA015: Socata TB 10, N28170, New Milford, CT, October 10, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 10, 2025, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: New Milford, CT - Coordinates: 41.569751, -73.46192 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5698&lon=-73.4619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA, BEA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201856 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201856/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201856 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to depart from an unlit turf runway at night, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and subsequent runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TB 10, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8680696), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TB 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=8680696), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: airport lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TB 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010/cases.md?model=8680696), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TB 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8680696), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Socata TB 10, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8680696), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to take off from an unlit turf runway about 1 hour after the end of civil twilight. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, he was unable to recognize the runway’s side boundaries and the airplane veered left and exited the runway. The airplane struck trees and fencing resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28170](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28170), registered now, S/N 1157, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SOCATA TB 10 - Registry model: [Socata TB 10](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-10) (registry code 8680696) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1157 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 2864 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 11, 2025, 40 hours before - Departed: 11N, New Milford, CT - Destination: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Airport: 11N, Candlelight Farms, runway 17, 2,900 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,276 total, 1,217 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KDXR, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KDXR 102253Z 17004KT 10SM CLR 12/05 A3037 ## 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 20251010016619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251010016619A), Oct 10, 2025: Socata TB 10, New Milford, CT, Substantial damage. A Socata TB-10, 4 place single engine aircraft struck the trees while attempting to take off from runway 17 at [privacy data omitted] airport(in New Milford,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201856. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19488976&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19488665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METAR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19489099&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-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.