Socata TB-20 accident near Massena, New York, November 20, 2002
On November 20, 2002, a Socata TB-20, registered N57TB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Massena, New York (Massena Intl-Richards Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall. Factors in this accident were the icing conditions, deteriorated airplane performance due to ice accumulation, and control interference by the passenger as reported by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2002
- Place
- Massena, New York · Massena Intl-Richards Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-20 · all TB-20s on the register
- Registration
- N57TB · no longer on the register · serial 493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger departed into forecasted icing conditions, and while en route, the airplane encountered icing conditions. The airplane was accumulating rime ice, and the pilot elected to divert to another airport. The pilot stated that the airplane was on final approach, when it encountered a wind pocket and the passenger "failed his arms and pulled back on the yoke." The airplane stalled and impacted the ground about 490 feet prior to the runway. Examination of the airplane did not revealed any pre-impact malfunctions. A police investigator who responded to the accident site reported that the airplane's wing was "slippery with ice." Airman Meteorological information Zulu called for occasional moderate rime to mixed icing in-clouds and in-precipitation between the freezing level and 11,000 feet, and was valid for the area surrounding the accident site. The freezing level was identified between the surface and 2,000 feet, in the vicinity of the accident site.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,590 hours in all; 1,450 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,520 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 2002; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YTZ Toronto at 10:05 pm
- Destination: BTV Burlington VT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 4,998 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from MSS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.