Socata TBM 700 (850) accident near Iowa City, Iowa, June 3, 2008
On June 3, 2008 at about 3:07 pm local time, a Socata TBM 700 (850), registered N849MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa City Municipal airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to depart with a preexisting tailwind and failure to abort takeoff. Contributing to the severity of the injuries was the failure to properly restrain (FAA-required) the child passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2008 · about 3:07 pm local time
- Place
- Iowa City, Iowa · Iowa City Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TBM 700 (850) · all TBM 700 (850)s on the register
- Registration
- N849MA · no longer on the register · serial 412
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot arrived at the accident airport as part of an Angel Flight volunteer program to provide transportation of a passenger who had undergone medical treatment at a local hospital. About 0937, the airplane landed on runway 30 (3,900 feet by 150 feet) with winds from 073-080 degrees and 5-6 knots, which continued to increase due to an atmospheric pressure gradient. The pilot met the passengers and departed the terminal about 1003, with winds at 101-103 degrees and 23-36 knots. About 1005 the airplane was near the approach end of runway 30 with wind from 089-096 degrees and 21-31 knots. The pilot stated that he began rotating the airplane about 3,000 feet down the runway. About 1006, the airplane was approximately 3,553 feet down the runway while flying about 30 feet above the runway. The airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall, and the left wing dropped before it impacted the ground. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane were noted during the investigation. The fatally injured passenger, who had received medical treatment, was 2 years and 10 months of age at the time of the accident. She was held by her mother during the flight, as she had been on previous Angel Flights, but was otherwise unrestrained. According to 14 CFR 91.107(3), each person on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft must occupy an approved seat with a safety belt properly secured during takeoff, and only unrestrained children who are under the age of 2 may be held by a restrained adult. Although the accident was survivable (both the pilot and the adult passenger survived with non-life-threatening injuries), an autopsy performed on the child revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma of the head.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Other weather encounter during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Passenger
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,688 hours in all; 4,138 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 5,688 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 26, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 420 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 27, 2008; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,934 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney Of Canada PT6-66D (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IOW Iowa City IA at 3:05 pm
- Destination: DCU Decatur AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 3,900 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 21 knots, gusting 36
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.51 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 pm from IOW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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.