Socata TB 30 EPSILON N50TB

Summary

On 1 November 2019 at about 20:35 local time, a Socata TB 30 EPSILON registered N50TB was involved in an accident near Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 November 2019 at 20:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Interna (AZO)

Coordinates

42.2344, -85.5517

Aircraft

Socata TB 30 EPSILON

Registration

N50TB

Category

Airplane

Year built

1985

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalamazoo → Battle Creek

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA017

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the pilot’s attempted forced landing at low altitude and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll, the engine noise and airplane acceleration were normal; however, as the airplane climbed through 300 to 400 ft above ground level, the engine began to lose power, and the airplane could not maintain altitude. The pilot said that as the airplane neared the ground, he attempted to reduce the descent rate by flaring as much as possible, but the airplane stalled and impacted the ground with a “great deal of force” and slid to a stop, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed no fuel in the fuel supply line leading to the engine for undetermined reasons. No other anomalies were noted during the examination, but a comprehensive engine exam was not performed, and the reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.