Socata TBM 700 N944CA

Summary

On 3 February 2007 at about 00:40 local time, a Socata TBM 700 registered N944CA, operated by Peter J Karoly, was involved in an accident near Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 February 2007 at 00:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB)

Coordinates

41.5605, -71.0003

Aircraft

Socata TBM 700

Registration

N944CA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Peter J Karoly

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boston → New Bedford

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

NYC07FA065

3 people died.

Both pilots' failure to maintain aircraft control during a missed approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the flight, the private pilot/operator was most likely seated in the left seat. He obtained his instrument rating about 7 months prior to the accident, and had accumulated approximately 300 hours of flight experience; of which, about 80 hours were in the accident airplane. The commercial pilot/company pilot was most likely seated in the right seat. He had accumulated approximately 1,000 hours of flight experience; of which, about 125 hours were actual instrument experience, and 80 hours were in the accident airplane. The commercial pilot had filed a flight plan to the wrong airport, received a weather briefing for the wrong airport, and therefore was not aware of the NOTAM in effect for an out of service approach lighting system at the destination airport. When the commercial pilot realized his error, he changed the flight plan, but did not request another weather briefing. According to radar information, the airplane flew the instrument landing system runway 5 approach fast, performed a steep missed approach to 1,000 feet, and then disappeared from radar, consistent with a loss of control during the missed approach. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified with the airplane during the investigation. The reported weather at the accident airport included an overcast ceiling at 200 feet, visibility 1 mile in light rain and mist, and wind from 160 degrees at 4 knots. The investigation could not determine which pilot was flying the airplane at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.