Socata TB 30 EPSILON accident near Kalamazoo, Michigan, November 1, 2019
On November 1, 2019 at about 8:35 pm local time, a 1985 Socata TB 30 EPSILON, registered N50TB, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Kalamazoo, Michigan (Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Interna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2019 · about 8:35 pm local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Kalamazoo, Michigan · Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Interna · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB 30 EPSILON, built 1985 · all TB 30 EPSILONs on the register
- Registration
- N50TB · registry record · serial 50
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure other cases naming the engine
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,555 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 3,809 as pilot in command; 2,428 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 11, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,028.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 5, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,860 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZO Kalamazoo MI at 8:35 pm
- Destination: BTL Battle Creek MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from AZO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 10, 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N50TB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N50TB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Daher (Socata) TB 30 43 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 56 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International · nearest airport
- Battle Creek Executive AT Kellogg Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,236 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N50TB 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN20LA017.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.