# NTSB LAX06CA070: Socata TBM 700, N198X, Lancaster, CA, December 27, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 27, 2005, 14:46 local (22:46 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, CA - Coordinates: 34.741111, -118.218612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7411&lon=-118.2186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63009/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA070 ## Probable cause The student's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, and the instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action, which resulted in a stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane stalled on short final approach, and it impacted the ground. The purpose of the flight was for the student to receive dual flight instruction to become more acquainted with the airplane's handling characteristics. The student met with his certified flight instructor and received a briefing regarding the upcoming lesson involving, in part, takeoff and landing practice. The instructor directed his student to perform a simulated engine out approach, and engine power was reduced as the airplane glided toward the airport. The student entered a close in downwind approach and, at the direction of the instructor, then performed a left circling turn onto the base and final approach legs. The landing gear was lowered, and the student questioned the instructor regarding whether they could glide all the way to the runway. The instructor advised his student to maintain 90 knots airspeed. During the descent, as the airplane turned from the close in base leg onto the final approach leg, the instructor told his student "don't bank." The student rolled the wings level. Immediately thereafter, the left bank began a second time and the instructor again said, "Don't bank." The student replied, "I'm not." The instructor applied engine power and right rudder to reduce the left bank. The airplane stopped rolling left, and then rolled into a right bank, whereupon the right wing impacted the ground. At no time did the instructor direct his student to release the airplane's flight controls. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 2005, about 1446 Pacific standard time, a Socata TBM 700, N198X, collided with the ground while on short final approach to runway 06 at the General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF), Lancaster, California. The right wing separated from the airframe during the subsequent impact with the ground. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact sequence and during the post impact ground fire. The pilot receiving instruction owned the airplane. Both the airline transport certificated pilot, who was providing dual flight instruction to the airplane owner, and the owner sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The instructional flight originated from Camarillo, California, about 1330. Both pilots provided the National Transportation Safety Board investigator with verbal and written statements regarding the accident flight. In pertinent part, the airplane owner reported that he had recently purchased the airplane. The purpose of the flight was to receive dual flight instruction in the airplane in order to become more acquainted with its handling characteristics. The owner met with his certified flight instructor (CFI) and received a briefing regarding the upcoming lesson. The flight was to include various maneuvers between 9,500 and 10,500 feet mean sea level. This was to be followed by takeoff and landing practice at WJF. After performing the maneuvers, the CFI directed the owner to perform a simulated engine-out approach to WJF. Accordingly, the engine power was reduced between 8 and 10 percent torque, and the owner glided toward the airport. After arriving over the airport, the owner entered a "close in" downwind for runway 06, and the pilots received a clearance to land. At the direction of the CFI, the owner performed a "left circle base to the runway." The landing gear was lowered, and the owner questioned the CFI regarding whether they could glide all the way to the runway. The CFI indicated to the owner that the airplane was in position to make the landing. The CFI directed the owner to maintain 90 knots airspeed. During the circling approach, as the airplane turned from the close in base leg onto the final approach leg, the CFI told the owner "don't bank." The owner rolled the wings level. Immediately thereafter, the left bank began a second time and the CFI again said, "Don't bank." The owner replied, "I'm not." Neither pilot recalled hearing the stall warning horn activate in the manner in which it had functioned during the earlier higher altitude maneuvers. Neither pilot recalled the airplane buffeting. The CFI applied engine power and right rudder. The airplane stopped rolling left, and then rolled into a right bank, whereupon the right wing impacted the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator examined the accident site and airplane wreckage. He reported observing a ground scar that was consistent with the initial point of impact being upwind of runway 06's landing threshold and beyond the north edge of the runway. The outboard lower portion of the right wing was the first airframe component to impact the ground. According to the FAA inspector, the CFI indicated that during the last few seconds of flight he had applied full right rudder to reduce the left bank. At no time did the CFI direct his student to release the airplane's flight controls. Runway 06 at WJF, elevation 2,348 feet mean sea level, is 7,201 feet long by 150 feet wide. At the time of the mishap, the reported weather was as follows: Wind from 050 degrees at 7 knots; 10 miles visibility; scattered clouds at 15,000 feet; and temperature/dew point at 21/4 degrees Celsius, respectively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N198X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N198X-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 138, built 1998 (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 Canada PT6A-6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-6-series) (registry code 52150, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 138 - Airframe hours: 1603 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clay Nordman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005 - Departed: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Destination: WJF, Lancaster, CA - Airport: WJF, General Wm. J. Fox Airfield, runway 06, 7,201 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 6,296 total, 2,921 in this make and model, 179 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,126 total, 15 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: WJF ## 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 20051227030409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051227030409A), Dec 27, 2005: Socata TBM700, Lancaster, CA, Destroyed. (-23) On 12/27/2005 while simulating and engine out approach to runway six Lancaster, California N198X entered the pattern mid field, then made a steep banked… 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.