TBM-700 Down On Takeoff From Iowa City

A two-year-old girl onboard a flight arranged by Angel Flight Central has died from her injuries, following the Tuesday morning downing of a Socata TBM-700 shortly after takeoff from Iowa City Municipal Airport (IOW).

Witnesses told The Associated Press the single-engine turboprop (type shown at right) appeared to be flying low and slow against gusting winds, shortly before the plane rolled sideways and impacted a ditch. The plane's fuselage separated from the airframe on impact.

The TBM was returning to Decatur, GA when it crashed just after 1000 local time Tuesday.

The plane's pilot, Lewis Martin, was injured in the accident, as was passenger Christina Blanton. Her two-year-old daughter, Sydney, suffered severe injuries; on Wednesday, her grandfather, Alan Harden, confirmed the toddler later died from her injuries.

Sydney Blanton had undergone treatment for clubfoot at University of Iowa hospitals for over two years. Her most recent trip to Iowa City was to repair a ligament.

Christina Blanton is said to be recovering from her injuries. Information on Martin's condition would not be released, according to a University Hospitals spokesman.

Martin has flown 60 Angel Flights in a span over 10 years, said Christel Gollnic, executive director of Angel Flight Central.

(Note: FAA report below not updated as of 06/04/08 1630 EDT)

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 849MA        Make/Model: TBM7      Description: TBM-700
  Date: 06/03/2008     Time: 1511

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Serious     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: IOWA CITY   State: IA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ON DEPARTURE, CRASHED 1/4 MILE OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE
  RUNWAY, THE THREE PERSONS ON BOARD SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURES, IOWA CITY, IA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   2     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: SPECI KIOW 031512Z AUTO 0923G36KT 7SM SCT025 14/14 A2945

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Other      Phase: Take-off      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: DES MOINES, IA  (CE01)                Entry date: 06/04/2008

FMI: www.angelflightcentral.org, www.faa.gov