Accident Details
On May 19, 2011, at 0843 eastern daylight time, a Socata TBM-850, N1UL, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain about 120 feet prior to the approach end of runway 10L at Salem Airpark (38D), Salem, Ohio. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured, but a third passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Urschel Air Leasing, LLC, and operated by Urschel Laboratories, Inc., as a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ), Valparaiso, Indiana, at 0722.
Approach and Descent
The pilot reported that Akron Approach Control cleared the flight to fly the GPS-A instrument approach to 38D. At GEOFF, the final approach fix, the airplane was level at 3,000 feet msl. The pilot lowered the landing gear and flaps to begin the descent. The airplane broke out of the clouds at about 1,800 feet msl, and the pilot proceeded visually to the airport. He circled to the right to land on runway 10. The pilot reported winds from 190 degrees at 10 knots, a direct crosswind. He calculated a landing distance of 1,400 feet and intended to land near the approach end. He turned onto the final leg about 2 miles from the airport, maintaining 85-90 knots IAS with full flaps and descending about 400 feet per minute.
Loss of Altitude
About 1/2 mile from the runway, the pilot thought the airplane was too high, but "a few seconds later" the airplane felt like it "literally just dropped out of the sky." He applied full power and pitched the nose up for a go-around, but "the application of power was too late." The left main landing gear struck the ground about 120 feet before the runway threshold. The airplane came to a stop about 120 feet past the threshold on the left side of the runway.
Flight Data
The Garmin GPS 1000 MFD recorded airspeed varying from 71 to 81 knots IAS during the 10 seconds prior to impact. Ground speed averaged about 3-5 knots higher than IAS during final approach. The Pilot Operating Handbook for the Socata TBM-850 lists the stall speed in landing configuration (full flaps) at 64 knots IAS at maximum gross weight. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or system failure.