Socata TB21 accident near Gold Hill, NC
On June 25, 2012, a Socata TB21 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gold Hill, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 25, 2012
- Place
- Gold Hill, NC
- Aircraft
- Socata TB21 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.520°N, 80.342°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120625X80103
Official records · ERA12FA412
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- FSS transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 25, 2012, at 0421 eastern daylight time, a Socata TB21, N2528N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Gold Hill Airport (NC25), Gold Hill, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the personal flight destined for Lancaster Airport (LNS), Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot's wife, he intended to fly the airplane from his home airport (NC25), to Germany, where he had another residence. He planned to make several stops along the way for fueling. On the morning of the accident, she assisted him in pulling the airplane from the hangar and observed the pilot load the airplane and taxi toward the runway. She reported it was a "little foggy" when the pilot departed, but did not observe the airplane depart due to her viewpoint on the field. A witness who was driving toward NC25 observed what he described as a "bright spotlight" which appeared to be on an airplane flying away from NC25. Shortly afterward, he observed white and gray smoke coming from the airplane, which turned to an orange color. He also observed the airplane's wings rocking back and forth, and the airplane veered to the right just prior to impacting the trees. The witness also reported fog in the area when he observed the airplane. According to information provided by the Lockheed Martin Washington Contract
Probable cause
An inflight fire, the origin of which could not be determined because of postaccident fire damage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper modifications to the airplane.
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Browse: North Carolina · Socata aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
