Country
Crash of a Socata TBM-700 in Spearfish: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 4, 1998 at 1345 LT
Registration:
N69BS
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lawrence – Madison – Spearfish
MSN:
10
YOM:
1991
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
1695
Circumstances:
Witnesses observed the flight enter downwind for runway 30, after it had completed a published approach to runway 12, with a circle to land on runway 30. The witnesses, one of which was a commercial pilot said that there were jagged ceilings at the time about 400 to 500 feet above the ground. He and two other men with him saw the airplane below the clouds. As the airplane proceeded downwind, it momentarily entered a cloud. As the airplane came out of the cloud, it turned left in about a 30 degree turn. The angle of bank increased to about 70 to 80 degrees, the tail of the airplane came up, and the airplane impacted the ground nose first. Several pilots at the airport heard someone from N69BS make a radio transmission on the UNICOM frequency. What was heard by several people was that N69BS had broken out at 2200 feet. They then heard, 'N69BS turning base,' immediately followed by 'lookout' and 'oh ....' All of the eye witnesses agreed that at no time did they see or hear any problems with the engine. They all said that the sounds coming from the engine never changed. The published approach in use at the time of the accident was the GPS (global positioning system) runway 12. The pilot made his initial approach to runway 12, broke off the approach to the right, entered a right downwind for a landing on runway 30. The published circling minimums for the approach were MDA (minimum descent altitude) 4,800 feet, HAT (height above terrain) 869 feet. Using an approach speed of 90 knots, the minimum visibility was 1 mile. Using an approach speed of 120 knots, the minimum visibility was 1 1/4 miles. The field elevation was 3,931 feet. The profile for the GPS runway 12 approach showed that after the IAF (Jesee way point), the course was 204 degrees, at 7,000 feet, to the Dezzi way point, from Dezzi the course was 114 degrees, descend to 5,600, to Sophi way point, after Sophi descend to 4,800 feet to the missed approach point at the Ruste way point. The distance from Dezzi to Ruste was 10 miles.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while turning to base leg. Contributing factors were low ceilings, clouds, and the pilot's failure to adhere to both the published approach procedures and the published minimum descent altitude.
Final Report:
Crash of a Socata TBM-700 in Truckee
Date & Time:
Mar 13, 1998 at 1900 LT
Registration:
N345RD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Novato - Truckee
MSN:
076
YOM:
1993
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1119
Circumstances:
The pilot was cleared for a GPS approach. He stated that he was too high to make a good landing, so he opted for a circling approach to another runway. As he turned for the base leg, he lost visual contact and became disoriented. It was a dark night with no moon. The pilot realized that he was in a 70- to 80-degree left bank and returned the airplane to a level attitude, then noticed the ground directly in front of him. The aircraft ran through a barbed wire fence, collided with trees, and slid rearward to a stop in a high altitude meadow east of the airport. The FAA completed an evaluation of the circling approach procedures and night operations for that airport and did not find any problems.
Probable cause:
The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft due to spatial disorientation. A factor was the dark night.
Final Report:
Crash of a Socata TBM-700 in Kushiro: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 26, 1996 at 1108 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JA8896
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sapporo - Kushiro
MSN:
68
YOM:
1993
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The pilot encountered poor visibility on approach to Kushiro Airport due to foggy conditions. Too low on final, the single engine aircraft collided with elements of the ILS systems and crashed 200 metres short of runway 17, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed.
Crash of a Socata TBM-700 in Braunschweig
Date & Time:
Dec 8, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
OE-EHG
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
28
YOM:
1991
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Airport, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the single engine aircraft struck power cables and crashed in the Oker River, about 3,5 short of runway 08 threshold. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crash of a Socata TBM-700 near Wieden: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 2, 1993 at 1231 LT
Operator:
Registration:
OE-EDU
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Freiburg im Breisgau - Vienna
MSN:
73
YOM:
1993
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Freiburg im Breisgau Airport at 1216LT on a flight to Vienna-Schwechat Airport, carrying five passengers and one pilot. About 15 minutes later, after he reached the assigned altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Wiedener Eck, near Wieden. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all six occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with snow falls and mist. The pilot did not send any distress call.
