Socata TBM 700 accident near Sandy Valley, Nevada, April 6, 2013
On April 6, 2013 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Socata TBM 700, registered N751J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sandy Valley, Nevada (Kingston Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2013 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sandy Valley, Nevada · Kingston Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TBM 700 · all TBM 700s on the register
- Registration
- N751J · no longer on the register · serial 25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed a go-around when he saw coyotes crossing the intended landing runway. He retracted the landing gear for the go-around; however, he did not remember to extend the gear again during the second landing approach. The airplane subsequently landed with the landing gear retracted. The bottom of the fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,380 hours in all; 937 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,280 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 6,579 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocket Boy LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 04NV Sandy Valley NV at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 04NV Sandy Valley NV
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 20, 3,240 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from HND, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.