Socata TB21 accident near Gold Hill, North Carolina, June 25, 2012
On June 25, 2012 at about 8:21 am local time, a 1989 Socata TB21, registered N2528N, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Gold Hill, North Carolina (Gold Hill Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight fire, the origin of which could not be determined because of postaccident fire damage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper modifications to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2012 · about 8:21 am local time
- Place
- Gold Hill, North Carolina · Gold Hill Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB21, built 1989 · all TB21s on the register
- Registration
- N2528N · no longer on the register · serial 903
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed his home airport in North Carolina with the intention of flying the airplane to Germany where he had another residence. During the weeks before the accident, the pilot made several modifications to the airplane in preparation for the trip. Friends and witnesses described the installation of a white plastic fuel tank in the backseat, "similar to a tank you would see on a riding lawnmower." Such a tank is not aviation-approved. The installation included fuel lines that were smaller than recommended by the airplane manufacturer, and the system was vented into the cabin. Local mechanics also reported that the pilot performed his own maintenance to the turbocharger and the exhaust system. In the 2 weeks before the accident, mechanics "topped off" the oxygen system twice, the most recent service occurring 3 days before the accident. During that servicing, mechanics noted water leaking from the oxygen line, and the pilot reported trouble breathing at an altitude of 25,000 feet. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed before dawn into instrument meteorological conditions. A witness observed the airplane trailing white and gray smoke, which turned to an orange color, consistent with an in-flight fire. Shortly after, the airplane impacted trees about ½ mile north of the departure airport. The airplane was consumed by fire and the investigation was unable to determine the fire's origin; however, evidence of several non-approved modifications to the airplane were observed in the wreckage path, including the non-approved fuel line and valve as well as an aluminum can that was safety-wired to the outlet of the air-oil separator. Such modifications could have likely contributed to the fire's origin or spread. Fueling records from a nearby airport revealed that the pilot purchased fuel twice during the week before the accident. Airport security video showed the pilot placing the fuel hose inside the cabin of the airplane on the dates he purchased fuel, likely to fill the tank that was in the back seat. While the pilot's most recent documented flight time was logged 2 years before the accident, his recent and total flight time could not be confirmed after the accident. Accordingly, the investigation was unable to determine if a lack of recent piloting experience may have contributed to the accident. Although the autopsy also identified coronary artery disease and a mass in the pilot's abdomen, the manner in which the airplane was flown before the accident and the witness report of an inflight fire indicates that the pilot was most likely in control of the airplane and was not incapacitated.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Modification/alteration › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 4, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: NC25 Gold Hill NC at 8:15 am
- Destination: Lancaster PA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 am from RUQ, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N2528N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ERA12FA412.