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Accidents · NTSB CEN20FA001 · Final report

Socata TBM 700 accident near Lansing, Michigan, October 3, 2019

On October 3, 2019 at about 12:58 pm local time, a 2003 Socata TBM 700, registered N700AQ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Lansing, Michigan (Capital Region International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during final approach, which resulted in a loss of control and an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude, and his decision to operate the airplane outside of the approved weight and balance envelope.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 3, 2019 · about 12:58 pm local time
Place
Lansing, Michigan · Capital Region International · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
5 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
Weather
instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
Aircraft
Socata TBM 700 C2, built 2003 · all TBM 700s on the register
Registration
N700AQ · no longer on the register · serial 252
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot was conducting an instrument approach at the conclusion of a cross-country flight when the airplane entered a shallow climb and left turn away from the runway heading about 0.5-mile from the intended runway. According to airspeeds calculated from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast position data, the airplane’s calibrated airspeed was 166 knots when it crossed over the final approach fix inbound toward the runway and was about 84 knots when it was on a 0.5-mile final approach. The airplane continued to decelerate to 74 knots while it was in a shallow climb and left turn away from the runway heading. At no point during the approach did the pilot maintain the airframe manufacturer’s specified approach speed of 85 knots. The airplane impacted the ground in an open grass field located to the left of the extended runway centerline. The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain in a wings level attitude. The postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The altitude and airspeed trends during the final moments of the flight were consistent with the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. Based on the configuration of the airplane at the accident site, the pilot likely was retracting the landing gear and flaps for a go-around when the airplane entered the aerodynamic stall. The airplane was operating above the maximum landing weight, and past the aft center-of-gravity limit at the time of the accident which can render the airplane unstable and difficult to recover from an aerodynamic stall. Additionally, without a timely corrective rudder input, the airplane tends to roll left after a rapid application of thrust at airspeeds less than 70 knots, including during aerodynamic stalls. Although an increase in thrust is required for a go-around, the investigation was unable to determine how rapidly the pilot increased thrust, or if a torque-roll occurred during the aerodynamic stall.

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

What happened, in order

  1. Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
  2. Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (IFR final approach)
  3. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)

The NTSB's findings

  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › CG/weight distribution › Capability exceeded

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 1,404.8 hours in all; 76.4 in this make and model; 88.2 in the last 90 days; 35.5 in the last 30 days; 1,365 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: May 8, 2019
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 3,550.6 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2019; 38.3 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 7,394 lb
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-64 (turboprop); 3,551 hours total
  • Operator: N700Aq LLC

The flight

  • Departed from: HFY Greenwood IN at 12:00 pm
  • Destination: LAN Lansing MI
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 10R, 8,506 ft by 150 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 400 ft
  • Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
  • Observation at 12:53 pm from LAN, 1 miles away

Weather report (METAR): METAR KLAN 031253Z 00000KT 1 1/4SM R28L/6000VP6000FT -RA BR OVC004 12/11 A2993 RMK AO2 RAE11B44 SLP138 P0002 T01220111

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2
Passengers31

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

32 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 ATC Communications Summary PDF, 1 page View Download
2 ADS-B Data Plots PDF, 3 pages View Download
3 ADS-B Data (NTSB Processed) data file Download
4 ADS-B Data (Source Data) data file Download
5 NTSB Pilot Information Summary PDF, 2 pages View Download
6 Pilot Logbook PDF, 67 pages View Download
7 Simcom Completion Certificate (Tbm 700 Initial Course) PDF, 1 page View Download
8 Memorandum of Conversation (Concerning Pilot-rated Passenger Role on Accident Flight) PDF, 1 page View Download
9 NTSB Accident Site and Wreckage Examination Summary PDF, 8 pages View Download
10 NTSB Fuel Quantity Estimates and Weight and Balance Summary PDF, 2 pages View Download
11 Airplane Trip Logs (N700AQ) PDF, 7 pages View Download
12 Fuel Receipts (N700AQ) PDF, 12 pages View Download
13 Fueler Statements PDF, 4 pages View Download
14 Shadin Engine Trend Monitor Data Download (Decoded) PDF, 13 pages View Download
15 Weight and Balance Sheet (N700AQ) PDF, 1 page View Download
16 Pilot Operating Handbook Supplement 41 (Excerpts) PDF, 16 pages View Download
17 Daher Email with Aerodynamic Stall Speeds PDF, 1 page View Download
18 Airframe Logbook (Excerpts) PDF, 27 pages View Download
19 Engine Logbook (Excerpts) PDF, 13 pages View Download
20 Propeller Logbook (Excerpts) PDF, 8 pages View Download
21 Memorandum of Conversation (Troy Rodimel) PDF, 1 page View Download
22 The Engineering Collaborative Emails (Excerpts) PDF, 5 pages View Download
23 Email and Text Messages from Neil Sego Mobile Phone (Excerpts) PDF, 20 pages View Download
24 Hartzell Propeller Teardown Report PDF, 16 pages View Download
25 French BEA Study - Loss of Control on Fast Single-engine Turboprop Aircraft (Case of Socata Tbm 700) Updated Version 1991-2010 PDF, 32 pages View Download
26 FAA Weight & Balance Handbook (Excerpts) PDF, 3 pages View Download
27 NTSB Weather Summary Email PDF, 7 pages View Download
28 NTSB Autopsy Report Summary PDF, 1 page View Download
29 FAA Toxicology Report (Pilot) PDF, 1 page View Download
30 FAA Toxicology Report (Pilot-rated Passenger) PDF, 1 page View Download
31 Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 PDF, 1 page View Download
32 NTSB Certification of Party Representative (Hartzell Propeller Inc) PDF, 1 page View Download

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.