Socata TB200 accident near Simsbury, Connecticut, August 22, 2020
On August 22, 2020 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1992 Socata TB200, registered N156BB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Simsbury, Connecticut (Simsbury airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A runway excursion following an aborted takeoff in tailwind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2020 · about 5:50 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Simsbury, Connecticut · Simsbury · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB200 XL, built 1992 · all TB200s on the register
- Registration
- N156BB · no longer on the register · serial 1375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departing on the local flight, the pilot noted that the wind was calm and favoring one runway. He then back-taxied the airplane along the 2,205-ft-long runway for the departure. After initiating the takeoff roll, and nearing the mid-field point, the pilot noted that the windsock there had changed direction and that a tailwind was now present. The pilot then realized the airplane had not gained enough airspeed and aborted the takeoff. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, the pilot turned the airplane right to avoid a road, and it continued off the runway and eventually struck trees. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 281.8 hours in all; 38.7 in this make and model; 52.2 in the last 90 days; 14.6 in the last 30 days; 229.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 16, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,710 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2020; 159 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,535 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 3,820 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4B9 Simsbury CT
- Destination: 4B9 Simsbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,205 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from KBDL, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – right wing damage, (FAA)
Photo 2 – left wing damage (FAA)
Photo 3 – right wing root damaged (FAA)
Photo 4 – tire marks in sand (FAA)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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 19, 2021. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N156BB: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Daher (Socata) TB200 11 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 8,561 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Simsbury Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Connecticut 522 since 1982 · 68 in the last ten years
- Connecticut 1,612 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA20CA294.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.