Socata TBM 850 N228CH accident near Raleigh, North Carolina

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to continue an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain proper airspeed and climb attitude after aborting the landing, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and resulting in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot executed an approach that, based on the passenger’s description, was not stabilized, and the airplane touched down twice during landing. The propeller blades made contact with the runway, and the pilot decided to abort the landing because he did not think he could stop the airplane on the runway. During the subsequent takeoff and initial climb, the pilot made a tight left turn about 100 ft above ground level to avoid traffic on an intersecting runway, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact malfunction or deficiency that would have precluded normal operation.

Although the right main landing gear was found in the stowed position and its wheel axle and gear door showed scraping marks, an airport surveillance video showed that all three landing gear appeared to be in the down position during the airplane’s takeoff after the aborted landing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA191 for the full record.