Socata TBM700 N484RJ

Summary

On 15 July 2008 at about 18:57 local time, a Socata TBM700 registered N484RJ was involved in an accident near Kennesaw, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 2008 at 18:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Kennesaw, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Cobb County-McCollum Field (RYY)

Coordinates

34.0086, -84.6286

Aircraft

Socata TBM700

Registration

N484RJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albany → Kennesaw

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

MIA08FA141

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during final approach resulting in an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During approach to runway 9, the tower controller instructed the pilot to perform an “S” turn 3 miles from the runway. The pilot initiated the “S” turn to the left, and after turning back to the right towards the runway to complete the other half of the turn, the controller advised the pilot that he did not need to finish the maneuver, and could turn onto final approach. The last recorded ground speed was 89 knots when the pilot banked the airplane sharply to the left at this time, witnesses stated that the airplane seemed to do a wing over onto its back and go straight down. Flight simulation tests revealed that while making a steep turn and not adding power, as the bank angle increased the airspeed would decrease and the airplane would enter an aerodynamic stall. Toxicology testing indicated that the pilot had been using tramadol, a prescription painkiller with potentially impairing effects. The pilot had not reported its use on his most recent application for airman medical certificate approximately 20 months prior to the accident. It is unclear what role, if any, the medication or the condition for which it might have been used played in the accident. The pilot had accumulated over 975 hours of total time in all aircraft and 44.3 hours total time in the accident airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.