# NTSB WPR22LA290: EADS Socata TBM 700, N620WG, Carlsbad, NM, August 3, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 3, 2022, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, NM - Coordinates: 32.333553, -104.26144 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3336&lon=-104.2614&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105665 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105665/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105665 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA290 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to a distraction, which resulted in an impact with the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [EADS Socata TBM 700, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=8682004), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [EADS Socata TBM 700, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=8682004), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [EADS Socata TBM 700, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=8682004), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [EADS Socata TBM 700, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8682004), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [EADS Socata TBM 700, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=8682004), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated he was distracted as he followed another airplane into the traffic pattern and maintained visual separation with the airplane as it landed in front of him. During his approach he felt the airplane was faster than normal, even after reducing the throttle more than expected. When the airplane reached short final, the pilot heard a low tone he was unfamiliar with. He chose to ignore the tone and concentrate on landing the airplane. As the airplane touched down, the propeller impacted the runway and the airplane settled to the runway on its belly and came to a stop near the runway centerline. The landing gear switch was found in the down position, the main landing gear were found in a partially extended position, and the nose gear and landing gear doors were found in the retracted position. The main landing gear doors had damage consistent with the main landing gear being in a partially extended position, likely in transition, as the airplane slid on the runway. The nose gear doors had damage consistent with the doors being closed during landing. There was substantial damage to the stringers and frames on the underside of the airplane. An operational check of the landing gear was conducted following the accident and the landing gear operated normally and no anomalies were found. The evidence was consistent with the pilot becoming distracted and failing to extend the landing gear, followed by an attempt to lower the landing gear after the airplane touched down on the runway. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2022, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Socata TBM-700 airplane, N620WG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The pilot stated he followed another airplane into the traffic pattern and maintained separation visually as the other airplane landed in front of him. When the airplane reached short final, the pilot heard a low tone he was unfamiliar with. He chose to ignore the tone and concentrate on landing the airplane. As the airplane touched down, the propeller impacted the runway and the airplane settled to the runway on its belly and came to a stop near centerline. The landing gear switch was found in the down position, the main landing gear were found in a partially extended position, and the nose gear and landing gear doors were in a retracted position. The pilot did not recall when he put the landing gear switch down and he did not recall looking at the landing gear indicator lights on the approach. He further stated that he “failed to confirm 3 green,” and he let himself become distracted by the traffic in the pattern. The main landing gear doors had damage to their faces on the lower 1/3 of each of the doors. The nose gear doors had damage to the face of both doors. There was substantial damage to the stringers and frames on the underside of the airplane. The airplane was placed on jack stands and the landing gear was cycled up and down. It was noted that during extension the nose gear doors opened at the same time the main landing gear began to extend. No anomalies were noted with the landing gear system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N620WG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N620WG-2024-05-02), registration cancelled 2024-05-02, S/N 383, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EADS SOCATA TBM 700 - Registry model: [EADS Socata TBM 700](https://openairdocs.org/model/eads-socata-tbm-700) (registry code 8682004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A66D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a66d) (registry code 52069, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 383 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 2237.2 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hotel Romeo LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 7, 2021 - Departed: PWA, Oklahoma City, OK - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CNM, Cavern City Air Trml, runway 14, 4,616 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 867 total, 224 in this make and model, 817 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 2992.00 inHg ## 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 20220803014059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220803014059A), Aug 3, 2022: Eads Socata TBM 700, Carlsbad, NM, Substantial damage. On August 3, 2022, at 0819 MDT, a Eads Socata TMB700 bearing registration number [privacy data omitted] had a gear up landing. The aircraft was being operated… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105665. 29.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14898742&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memo of record - video of gear functional check (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15118946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Gear%20Swing-Rel.pdf - Gear swing video (item 3, MOV, 26.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14898164&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_4555-Rel.MOV - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15118400&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR22LA290-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.