History of Flight
On July 15, 2008, at 1457 eastern daylight time, a Socata TBM-700, registration N484RJ, was substantially damaged when it rolled inverted and collided with trees short of runway 9 at Cobb County-McCollum Field (RYY) in Kennesaw, Georgia. The certificated private pilot was killed. The flight originated from Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (ABY) in Albany, Georgia, at 1400 under an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
Communications between the pilot and the RYY control tower indicated that the pilot reported inbound and was instructed to perform an "S" turn to allow two departures. The pilot acknowledged but later reported on a three-mile final. The controller again requested an S-turn, and the pilot acknowledged. Witnesses observed the airplane on short final for runway 9, execute an S-turn, then perform a wing-over and descend straight down, followed by a large fire.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 66, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings, issued December 26, 2002, and a third-class medical certificate dated December 12, 2006, with a corrective lenses restriction. He reported 975 civilian flight hours. Prior to purchasing the TBM-700, he owned a Piper PA-46-350P and a Beech F33A.
Aircraft Information
The six-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear Socata TBM-700 was manufactured in 2005 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-64 turboprop engine. The most recent 100-hour inspection was on July 10, 2008, at 398.0 hours total time; estimated total time at the accident was 404.0 hours. The pilot purchased the airplane on March 13, 2008, at 359.7 hours, and had accumulated 44.3 hours in type by the accident date.
Meteorological Information
The weather at RYY reported wind from 100 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, temperature 30°C, dew point 18°C, and altimeter 30.07 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted trees in a steep, nose-down attitude in a wooded city park, 1.8 nautical miles southwest of runway 9 on a 089-degree bearing. A post-impact fire consumed most of the airframe; only a right wing section, left wing panels, engine, and engine cowling remained. The landing gear was extended and flaps in the landing configuration. Control cable continuity could not be established. The engine reduction gearbox was fractured, and the propeller blades showed tree and ground impact damage; two blades were in the power position. No preimpact engine failures were identified.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on July 16, 2008, determined the cause of death as sequelae of generalized trauma. Toxicology tests detected alfuzosin, bisoprolol, quinine, and tramadol in blood and urine. The pilot's last medical application disclosed bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide and ezetimibe/simvastatin use.
Additional Information
Radar data showed the airplane at 14:56:09 at 960 feet AGL, 147 knots, beginning a left turn; then at 14:56:32 at 860 feet AGL, 149 knots, turning right; and finally at 14:57:00 at 960 feet AGL, 89 knots, on a heading of 114 degrees. At that time, the controller instructed the pilot to turn toward the runway. Flight simulator tests indicated that without adding power during steep turns, the airplane could stall, but no direct cause was attributed to the accident.