Socata TBM700 | N721MB

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot lost speed awareness on the approach and stalled his aircraft. The accident pilot was alert and in normal communications with ATC just prior to the loss of control, and was conducting an instrument approach to RWY 09 at KANE, likely using autopilot in NAV and ALT HOLD modes, when he likely reduced power in order to slow down, and then became momentarily distracted while still in IMC conditions, not noticing the decay in IAS on the primary PFD. Light icing was forecast in the area and the aircraft may have accumulated some ice, which would have increased the stall speed by an unknown margin. At this time it is unknown whether the landing gear and/or flaps had been extended prior to the stall. The plane stalled while on AP, and turned to the left in an apparent AP OFF stall recovery attempt, eventually entering an aerodynamic spin and impacting a home located at 10792 Kyle Avenue North, Brooklyn, MN. The latest update to the FAA database suggests that the accident private pilot achieved a single engine instrument rating in 2008.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves for single pilot IFR / IMC operations prior to actual use, and place continued and increased vigilance on the threat of distraction in flight while in ALT HOLD mode and during periods of high workload. There was nothing wrong with this airplane, autopilot, or the pilot. All GA pilots are reminded of the dangers of single pilot over fixation on electronics and “heads down” time. This pilot was killed due to simple momentary low altitude distraction, from which a recovery was not possible.