What happened
On April 24, 2024, at approximately 10:10 EDT, a Socata TBM 850, registration N228CH, was involved in an accident near Raleigh, North Carolina. The aircraft, operated by Medical Air, Inc. under Part 91 regulations, was attempting to land on runway 32 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) under visual meteorological conditions.
According to air traffic control reports, the aircraft was cleared to land but bounced on the runway. Following the bounce, the pilot initiated a missed approach and began a left turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft appeared to stall and strike the ground. Surveillance video showed the aircraft traveling just above the surface for approximately 1,500 feet before transitioning into a climb. As the aircraft climbed, the left bank steepened to nearly 90 degrees, and the plane descended into ground contact.
A passenger on board reported that the aircraft was "rolling" and "tobogganing" during the final approach and touched down twice. The passenger noted that after the second touchdown, the pilot turned and rolled the airplane to the left as if to take off again. The passenger also stated that the aircraft felt as if it lost power during the bank, though they could not confirm if the engine had stopped.
The impact resulted in one serious injury to the pilot and one minor injury to the passenger. There were no fatalities.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage and surveillance footage revealed that the aircraft impacted the ground with its nose and left wingtip almost simultaneously. The propeller separated from the engine, and the four blades showed gouging and chordwise scratching near the tips. The engine and engine compartment sustained significant impact damage, though the firewall, windshield, and cockpit area remained intact. The fuselage was fractured between the cockpit and the cabin.
The left wing was severely damaged, with the outboard section destroyed and scattered near the main wreckage. The right wing remained attached and largely intact, though it exhibited an upward bend at the tip consistent with the impact. There was no evidence of a post-crash fire.
Records indicate the pilot was an airline transport pilot with 16,000 total flight hours, including 2,500 hours in this specific make and model. The aircraft, manufactured in 2006, was powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D turboshaft engine.