Socata TBM 850 accident near Raleigh, North Carolina, April 24, 2024
On April 24, 2024 at about 2:10 pm local time, a 2006 Socata TBM 850, registered N228CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Raleigh, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham Intl airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to continue an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain proper airspeed and climb attitude after aborting the landing, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and resulting in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2024 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh, North Carolina · Raleigh-Durham Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TBM 850, built 2006
- Registration
- N228CH · no longer on the register · serial 356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot executed an approach that, based on the passenger’s description, was not stabilized, and the airplane touched down twice during landing. The propeller blades made contact with the runway, and the pilot decided to abort the landing because he did not think he could stop the airplane on the runway. During the subsequent takeoff and initial climb, the pilot made a tight left turn about 100 ft above ground level to avoid traffic on an intersecting runway, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact malfunction or deficiency that would have precluded normal operation. Although the right main landing gear was found in the stowed position and its wheel axle and gear door showed scraping marks, an airport surveillance video showed that all three landing gear appeared to be in the down position during the airplane’s takeoff after the aborted landing.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 2023; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D (turboprop); 4,237 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KILM Wilmington NC at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14/3, 3,570 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 am from KRDU, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRDU 241420Z 29006KT 10SM BKN090 BKN200 BKN250 18/08 A3005 RMK T01780083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Mor - Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Mor - Passenger | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Airplane Examination Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 | data file | Download |
| 8 | Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 2 | text file | View Download |
| 9 | Security Camera Video 1 | video | View Download |
| 10 | Security Camera Video 2 | video | View Download |
| 11 | Security Camera Video 3 | video | View Download |
| 12 | Security Camera Still Images | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | 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 N228CH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.