Socata TB-20 Trinidad accident near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, March 19, 2007
On March 19, 2007 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Socata TB-20 Trinidad, registered N900Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rhinelander, Wisconsin (Rhinelander-Oneida County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi. A contributing factor was the gusting winds and sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2007 · about 6:45 pm local time · cases in 2007
- Place
- Rhinelander, Wisconsin · Rhinelander-Oneida County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-20 Trinidad · all TB-20 Trinidads on the register
- Registration
- N900Y · registry record · serial 627
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed and applied brakes when the right brake reportedly did not work. A "strong gust" of wind lifted the left wing and the airplane hit a runway sign. A mechanic at the airport stated he inspected the airplane damage and advised the pilot that the airplane was unsafe to fly. The leading edge of the outboard right wing was crushed inward and torn open. The brakes were not inspected, but the pilot then flew the airplane without repair to another airport where it landed without incident.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,830 hours in all; 2,350 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,522 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,083 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Wheeling IL at 3:30 pm
- Destination: RHI Rhinelander WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,799 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from RHI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N900Y on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Daher (Socata) TB-20 200 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 4,223 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Rhinelander/Oneida County · nearest airport
- Chicago Executive · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Wisconsin 1,622 since 1982 · 226 in the last ten years
- Wisconsin 6,164 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI07LA092.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.