# NTSB FTW90FA160: Aerospatiale/Socata TB-10, N20AZ, Ada, OK, August 21, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1990, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Ada, OK
- Coordinates: 34.770732, -96.660896 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7707&lon=-96.6609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23033
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23033/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA160

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED FOR A CLIMB PROFILE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE PILOT ALLOWED THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO EXCEED THE CERTIFIED LIMITS, HIS USE OF EXCESSIVE FLAPS AND IMPROPER LEANING OF THE MIXTURE FOR TAKEOFF, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
  - climb - not attained
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF FROM THE RUNWAY ABRUPTLY, BUT IT NEVER GAIN MORE THAN ABOUT 50 TO 75 FT OF ALTITUDE, THOUGH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE WAS MAINTAINED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THEY SAW BLACK & THEN GREY SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 97 DEGREES & THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 3500 FEET. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVERLOADED BY 228 LBS & THAT THE C.G. WAS ABOUT 0.69 INCHES AFT OF THE AFT LIMIT. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND EXTENDED ABOUT 25 DEGREES; THE RECOMMENDED FLAP SETTING FOR TAKEOFF WAS 15 DEGREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20AZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20AZ-1992-04-27), registration cancelled 1992-04-27, S/N 484 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE/SOCATA TB-10
- Registry model: [Socata TB 10](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-10) (registry code 8680696) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 484
- Airframe hours: 1017
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1AD 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Peachtree Dekalb Flight Acdmy
- Registered owner: Donald E. Bailey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1990, 68 hours before
- Departed: ADH
- Destination: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ADH, Ada Muni, runway 35, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 199 total, 17 in this make and model, 137 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADA

## 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 19900821035079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900821035079A), Aug 21, 1990: Socata TB10TOBAGO, Ada, OK, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Rotated early on takeoff. Mushed nose high into trees. Was 228 lbs over gross and aft of CG. Used 25 degree flaps.

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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