Eads Socata TBM 700 accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, August 3, 2022
On August 3, 2022 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2006 Eads Socata TBM 700, registered N620WG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Carlsbad, New Mexico (Cavern City Air Trml airport). It was a business 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
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to a distraction, which resulted in an impact with the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2022 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, New Mexico · Cavern City Air Trml · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eads Socata TBM 700, built 2006 · all TBM 700s on the register
- Registration
- N620WG · no longer on the register · serial 383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was distracted as he followed another airplane into the traffic pattern and maintained visual separation with the airplane as it landed in front of him. During his approach he felt the airplane was faster than normal, even after reducing the throttle more than expected. When the airplane reached short final, the pilot heard a low tone he was unfamiliar with. He chose to ignore the tone and concentrate on landing the airplane. As the airplane touched down, the propeller impacted the runway and the airplane settled to the runway on its belly and came to a stop near the runway centerline. The landing gear switch was found in the down position, the main landing gear were found in a partially extended position, and the nose gear and landing gear doors were found in the retracted position. The main landing gear doors had damage consistent with the main landing gear being in a partially extended position, likely in transition, as the airplane slid on the runway. The nose gear doors had damage consistent with the doors being closed during landing. There was substantial damage to the stringers and frames on the underside of the airplane. An operational check of the landing gear was conducted following the accident and the landing gear operated normally and no anomalies were found. The evidence was consistent with the pilot becoming distracted and failing to extend the landing gear, followed by an attempt to lower the landing gear after the airplane touched down on the runway.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear selector › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 867 hours in all; 224 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 817 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 12, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,237.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 7,430 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 4,616 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 2992.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 25, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memo of Record - Video of Gear Functional Check | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Gear Swing Video | MOV file | Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.