History of Flight
On March 22, 2014, at 1400 mountain daylight time, a Socata TBM 700, registration N702H, impacted the Ridgway Reservoir near Ridgway, Colorado. The airplane came to rest about 60 feet underwater. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight with an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination airport.
The flight originated from Bartlesville Municipal Airport (BVO), Oklahoma, at about 1111, with an intended destination of Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), Colorado. Earlier that day, the pilot had obtained a weather briefing via DUATS and filed an IFR flight plan from Gadsden, Alabama, to BVO. The pilot and passengers had departed Gadsden about 0739, arrived at BVO about 1001, and refueled. After lunch, they departed BVO at 1111 and contacted Kansas City ARTCC for an IFR clearance to MTJ. The flight was subsequently cleared to FL260.
Control was transferred to Denver ARTCC at about 1233. At 1330, the pilot was advised to expect the RNAV (GPS) Runway 35 approach at MTJ. Descent clearances were issued, and at 1348 the pilot was cleared for the approach. At 1358, the pilot was released to change to the airport advisory frequency. At 1400:34, the pilot transmitted, "spin I'm trying to get out of here." No further communications were received.
Radar track data showed the airplane passing the YARUB initial approach fix at 1356:59 at 15,800 feet, then beginning a descent. The airplane deviated from the approach course, making turns north and east before the final data points near the accident site. The final Mode C altitude recorded was 8,700 feet at 1400:34. The elevation of the Ridgway Reservoir was about 6,870 feet.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings and a third-class medical certificate with a corrective lenses limitation, issued February 12, 2014. Review of the pilot's logbook indicated a total flight time of about 908 hours in single-engine land airplanes, including 71 hours of actual instrument and 46 hours simulated instrument. The logbook showed 8.6 hours in the accident airplane, with an instrument proficiency check and high-altitude pressurized airplane training completed in a TBM 700 on January 4, 2014.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a 1996 Socata TBM 700, serial number 112, a six-place, single-engine, pressurized airplane with retractable tricycle landing gear. It was equipped with an ice protection system and approved for flight into known icing conditions except severe. The engine was a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 turbo-propeller engine rated at 700 shaft horsepower. The most recent annual inspection was completed on November 21, 2013, at which time the airframe had 4,785.1 hours. The airplane was purchased by Gadsden Aviation LLC on December 30, 2013.
Meteorological Information
At 1353, the MTJ Automated Surface Observing System reported wind from 210 degrees at 9 knots, few clouds at 1,500 feet, broken clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet, 10 miles visibility with light rain, temperature 5°C, dew point 2°C, and altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury. An AIRMET advisory warned of moderate icing between the freezing level and 19,000 feet, and moderate turbulence below 14,000 feet. The area forecast for Colorado included broken clouds at 12,000 feet msl with tops to 16,000 feet msl and occasional light snow showers.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest inverted about 60 feet below the reservoir surface. The aft fuselage and empennage had separated at a point near the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer and were recovered separately. The wings, engine, and propeller remained attached. Damage to the lower surfaces was consistent with a near-level attitude, upright impact. The engine displayed rotational damage and scoring, indicating rotation at impact. The propeller blades were found in the feathered position.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy attributed the pilot's death to multiple traumatic injuries. Toxicology testing detected yohimbine in urine and liver; no ethanol was detected.
Additional Information
The Pilot's Operating Handbook included procedures for spin recovery, which involved neutralizing the controls, applying full opposite rudder, reducing power to idle, and raising flaps.