Socata TB21 accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina, December 27, 2003
On December 27, 2003 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Socata TB21, registered N1879S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina (Avery County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate flare, and his failure to maintain directional control. The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and trees are a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2003 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Spruce Pine, North Carolina · Avery County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB21 · all TB21s on the register
- Registration
- N1879S · no longer on the register · serial 1879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he entered left traffic for runway 34, and he noticed a reduction in airspeed as the airplane crossed over a hill. He increased power and the airplane developed an excessive sink rate. The pilot added power; the airplane touched down on the runway, and bounced back into the air. The airplane touched down again and went off the left side of the runway, down an embankment, and the left wing collided with a tree. Witnesses located on the airport who observed the accident stated the winds were one to three knots. Another witness located adjacent to the airport stated the winds were calm. The pilot stated he did not encounter any mechanical problems.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 924 hours in all; 590 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 824 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 7, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Avco Lycoming TIO-540-AB1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: M33 Gallatin TN at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 7A8 Spruce Pine NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from HKY, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL04LA059.