History of Flight
On June 3, 2008, at 1007 central daylight time, a Socata TBM-700 (850), N849MA, operated by a private pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as an Angel Flight Central, Inc. mission, received substantial damage after impacting terrain during initial climb from runway 30 at Iowa City Municipal Airport (IOW), Iowa City, Iowa. The flight originated at 1005 and was en route to Pryor Field Regional Airport, Decatur, Alabama, under an instrument flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions with convective activity prevailed. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the second passenger, a child, sustained fatal injuries.
According to the mother, who was one of the passengers, the pilot called her to arrange a 0915 meeting at IOW. She arrived at 0845 and observed drizzle. She saw the airplane land and noted water splashing on the runway. The pilot checked weather and told her it was clear in Alabama. They boarded when it was not raining. During taxi, the pilot asked if they were ready and performed an engine run-up.
The pilot obtained an IFR clearance to Decatur, cleared as filed, maintain 10,000 feet, with final altitude flight level 290. The mother stated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane swerved left, then right, then straightened. After lift-off, the airplane tipped dramatically to the left, and she heard a buzzer sound. She saw the tail go up and then the ground approaching.
The IOW airport manager observed the takeoff and recalled that the ASOS showed winds of 25 knots gusting to 33 knots. He saw the airplane about 100 feet above ground at the runway departure end, then it suddenly went nose up and rolled counter clockwise.
The pilot stated he listened to the ASOS and announced his taxi intentions on unicom. He noticed wind nearly the same as on landing, from 360-010 degrees. He felt a wind change and gust pushing the aircraft left during takeoff. He rotated at 85 knots about 3,000 feet down the runway.
Injuries and Survival Aspects
The child passenger, held on the mother's lap without restraints, sustained fatal blunt force head trauma. The pilot and mother had minor injuries. The mother stated she was not wearing a headset. The airplane was equipped with seatbelts and shoulder harnesses for all seats, but the child was not restrained. An Angel Flight mission itinerary listed the child's age as older than two years. The mother said she previously used a child carrier when her daughter was younger but stopped after age two; the child was unrestrained on all previous Angel Flights. The pilot briefed the passengers on exits and seat belt operation.
Aircraft Information
The 2007 TBM 700 (850), serial number 412, had 420.0 total hours. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D turboprop engine with a four-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller. The last 100-hour inspection was on May 27, 2008, at 418 hours. The weight and balance report showed maximum takeoff weight 7,394.2 lbs. The pilot reported about 275 gallons of Jet A on board. The pilot weighed 215 lbs, passengers 140 lbs and 24 lbs, with 50 lbs baggage. The flaps and landing gear were found in takeoff and down positions, respectively. The oxygen system switches were off. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would preclude normal operation.
The airplane's stall sensor on the right wing leading edge provides an audible warning 5 to 10 knots above stall speed. The pilot's operating handbook includes takeoff distance corrections for wind and runway conditions.
Meteorological Information
The National Weather Service indicated a stationary front with a low pressure area in northeast Kansas. Doppler radar showed convective activity over IOW at 0936 and about 6.2 miles east of IOW at 1004. The IOW ASOS recorded minute-by-minute wind data. At 1007, wind was from 097 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 36 knots. Earlier observations showed variable winds shifting from northerly to easterly and increasing in speed. The airport manager recalled the wind tee favored runway 12.
Airport Information
IOW is a non-towered airport with two runways: 07-25 (4,335 feet) and 12-30 (3,900 feet). A NOTAM valid at the time indicated runway 07-25 was closed for VFR operations 0700-1900 Monday-Friday. Handwriting on approach charts recovered from the wreckage noted this closure.
Wreckage and Impact
The main wreckage, including the airframe without empennage and engine, came to rest in an office building parking lot about 0.28 miles from the departure end of runway 30, on a heading of 282 degrees. The wreckage path was 640 feet long, oriented about 244 degrees. The empennage was 100 feet behind the main wreckage. The propeller hub exhibited torsional overload; blades showed S-shaped bending. GPS data recorded lift-off at 1006:23 at about 3,553 feet down the runway.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings, and a multiengine land rating. He reported 5,688 total flight hours, with 4,388 hours in the accident make/model. His last flight review was April 26, 2008. He had no previous accidents or enforcement actions.
Additional Information
Angel Flight Central required pilots to have a minimum of 250 hours as pilot-in-command and be properly licensed; an instrument rating was desired but not required. Several aeronautical charts recovered were expired. A Simcom TBM 700/850 checklist for training purposes was found in the airplane.