N59TB

On October 7, 1996, about 1753 central daylight time, a Socata TB-20, N59TB, registered to Socata Aircraft, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 corporate flight, crashed during a go-around in the vicinity of Mobile, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Grand Prairie, Texas, about 4 hours 37 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he made an ILS approach to runway 32 at the Mobile Regional Airport. The airplane landed hard and started to porpoise down the runway. He initiated a go-around by adding full power and raising the flaps to 10 degrees. Upon establishing a positive rate of climb the landing gear and flaps were retracted, and the fuel pump was turned off. The engine started to sputter and lose power. He turned the fuel pump on and verified the mixture was full rich. He then moved the mixture lever aft about 1 inch and turned the fuel pump on and off with negative results. He started a turn to the left, the stall warning horn sounded, he pushed the nose down, and moved the landing gear selector to the down position. The left wing collided with a tree and the airplane impacted the ground.

Review of radio communication between N59TB, Grand Prairie Ground Control and Mobile Local Control revealed that N59TB requested to taxi from American Eurocopter at 1141 to Howell Aircraft Service for fuel N59TB departed Howell's ramp at 1209, taxied to runway 35, and departed on a VFR flight at 1215. N59TB landed at Grand Prairie at 1236 and taxied to parking. At 1348, N59TB requested to taxi, and picked up his IFR clearance to Mobile, Alabama. N59TB taxied to runway 35 and was cleared for take off at 1357. At 1742, N59TB was cleared for the ILS approach runway 32 at the Mobile Regional Airport, and reported initiating a go-around at 1749. N59TB informed the controller at 1750:45, "our engine is uh cutting out nine tango bravo." The controller cleared N59TB to land on any runway. The last recorded communication with N59TB was at 1752:49.

Examination of the crash site by the FAA revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories. The left fuel tank was ruptured, and there was no browning of vegetation. The right fuel tank was not ruptured and no fuel was present. No fuel was present in the fuel filter or the fuel distributor. The propeller was bent aft with no evidence of torsional twisting. Fire and police officers who responded to the crash site reported no odor of fuel or evidence of leakage of fuel at the crash site.

The airplane wreckage was released to the Mobile Department of Public Safety Police Services on October 8, 1996.

The airplane wreckage was transported to Air Salvage of Dallas. The engine was placed in an engine test cell. The started, developed power and was operated for about 20 minutes.