# NTSB ATL04FA096: Cirrus Design SR20, N8157J, Greenwood, SC, April 19, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2004, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Greenwood, SC - Coordinates: 34.247222, -82.176391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2472&lon=-82.1764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cirrus Design Corporation, Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc., BRS, FAA Headquarters AAI-100 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04FA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59096/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb that resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent collision with trees. A factor was the inadequate preflight planning/preparation when he failed to lower the wing flaps. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane was observed by a witness taxing to the active 5000-foot-long runway and depart without an engine run-up. The witness also reported that the wing flaps were in the retracted position. Another witness described the takeoff roll as long and that the airplane remained about 10 to 15 feet above the runway as it approached the departure end of the runway. The witness reported that as the airplane approached the end of the runway the airplane suddenly pitched up at a steep angle to an altitude of about 300-400 feet. The airplane then slowed and appeared to experience a stall rotating about 175-degrees on its vertical axis to the left. About half way down from the 175-degree rotation point observed a slight pitch up of nose, and then airplane entered a near vertical dive to the left. The airplane disappeared from view behind a tree line and two consecutive loud bangs were heard followed by fire ball and black smoke. Examination of the crash site revealed the flap jack screw was found in the up position. According to the pilot operating handbook, the normal procedure for takeoff is for flaps to be extended to 50 percent. The takeoff ground distance, based on performance data, is 1776 feet. No anomalies were noted with the airframe, flight controls, or engine assembly during the post accident examination of the wreckage. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 19, 2004, at 1400 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cirrus SR20, N8157J, registered to Attic Aircraft Leasing LLC, and operated by Aero Atlantic Flight Center, as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, collided with trees and ground after departing Greenwood Airport, Greenwood, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and a post crash fire ensued. The private pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries. The flight originated from the Greenwood Airport on April 19, 2004, at 1400. A private pilot stated he was on a cross-country flight from Dover A.F.B. to Eglin A.F.B. and he had stopped at Greenwood, South Carolina for fuel. He observed the accident airplane taxi out and depart from runway 27. The takeoff roll was long and the airplane lifted off the ground in "ground effect." The airplane remained about 10 to 15 feet above the runway and continued at that altitude all the way down to the end of the tree line off the departure end of the runway. "The aircraft suddenly pitched up at a steep angle to an altitude of about 300-400 feet. The aircraft then slowed and appeared to experience a departure stall rotating about 175-degrees on its vertical axis to the left. About half way down from the 175-degree rotation point he observed a slight pitch up of nose, and then aircraft entered a near vertical dive to the left. The aircraft went out of sight behind tree line, then he heard two consecutive loud bangs followed by fire ball, and black smoke a few seconds later." An airframe and power plant mechanic located at the Greenwood Airport, stated he observed the accident airplane taxing to runway 27 with both doors open, and the flaps in the retracted position. The airplane taxied onto the active runway and departed without conducting an engine run-up. Another witness stated he was playing golf at a local golf course located off the departure end of runway 27 at the Greenwood Airport. He heard the sound of an airplane engine sputtering; he looked in the direction of the sound and observed the airplane spinning to the ground in a nose down attitude to the left. The airplane made about two or three turns to the left before it collided with trees, ground, and burst into flames. He immediately telephoned the 911 emergency operator and reported the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Review of information on file with the FAA Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on October 15, 2002, with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot held a third class medical certificate issued on September 18, 2002, with no restrictions. The pilot reported he had accumulated 500 total flight hours on the application for the third class medical certificate. The pilot attended Cirrus SR20 training at Aero Atlanta Flight Center from December 10, 2003, through January 8, 2004. The pilot received 5.5 hours of ground school and 6 hours of dual instruction. The pilot's last biennial flight review was on October 15, 2002. According to Aero Atlanta Flight Center, the pilot had between 50 to 100 hours in the SR20 airplane. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Review of the aircraft records revealed the last 100-hour inspection was conducted on March 30, 2004, at Hobbs time 280.1. According to the aircraft operator the airplane was last flown on April 18, 2004, and the Hobbs time at dispatch on the accident flight from Marietta, Georgia, was 318.5. The airplane was topped off with 42.9 gallons of 100 low lead fuel on April 19, 2004. No fuel was obtained at Greenwood, South Carolina. The Hobbs meter at the crash site was destroyed by fire. The maximum gross weight of the SR20 for takeoff is 3,000 pounds. The pilot completed a weight and balance before departing on the flight from Marietta, Georgia, to Greenwood, South Carolina. The empty weight of the airplane was 2,145 pounds. The pilot indicated he had 350 pounds in the front seats, 150 pounds in the rear seat, and 56 gallons of fuel for a total ramp weight of 2,981 pounds. The pilot and three passengers departed Marietta, Georgia, with a computed ramp weight of 3,111 pounds. The pilot and three passengers departed Greenwood, South Carolina, with a computed ramp weight of 3,045 pounds. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The Greenwood Airport, Greenwood, South Carolina, 1428 surface weather observation was wind 240-degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 21 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear, temperature 82-degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 48-degress Fahrenheit, and altimeter 30.30. WRECKAGE INFORMATION The wreckage was located in a wooded area in a valley behind 213 and 215 Chatham Court, Greenwood, South Carolina. The airplane was 1,812 feet south southwest of Greenwood Airport, Greenwood, South Carolina. Examination of the crash site revealed that the airplane, collided with two trees and the ground while descending. Forty-five degree "v" cuts were present on a tree 36 feet above the base of the tree. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 270-degrees magnetic, and was consumed by a post crash fire. The engine mounts and engine assembly separated from the firewall and the engine assembly was displaced to the left. All four engine mounts were broken. The firewall was bent inward. The starter was crushed forward and the right magneto broke off and was not located. The number one alternator was burned and the support bracket was broken. The number two alternator was burned and separated from the engine assembly. The oil filter and a piece of the oil filter adapter were broken off. The oil cooler was crushed. The burned remnants of the upper and lower engine cowling separated from the fuselage and was located forward of the engine compartment. The nose gear separated from the engine mount assembly and was displaced aft and to the left. The propeller assembly separated from the crankshaft with the propeller flange attached to the propeller hub. The propeller spinner remained attached to the propeller hub and received impact damage. All three-propeller blades remained attached to the propeller hub and exhibited, "s" bending, torsional twisting, and chord wise scarring. One propeller blade tip was separated 28-inches outboard of the propeller hub, and the propeller tip was located wedged in a tree. The cabin area was consumed by fire extending aft to the baggage compartment. The left and right cabin doors separated and the cabin door pins were in the extended position. The fuel selector valve was in the left wing integral fuel tank position. Four seatbelt and shoulder harness buckles were separated from their attachments points. Three of the seatbelts and shoulder harnesses were in the locked position. The male end of the remaining seatbelt and shoulder harness assembly was located, but the female end was not recovered. The right wing was attached to the fuselage at the spar tunnel. The remnants of the right wing were displaced aft. The upper and lower wing skins were consumed by fire. The right wing flap was consumed by fire. The flap jackscrew, which controls both flaps, revealed the flaps were in the up position. The inboard 7-inches and the outboard 21-inches of the right aileron received fire damage. The middle section of the aileron was consumed by fire. The right main landing gear and tire separated from the right wing and was damaged by fire. The fuel collector tank and integral tank were ruptured and consumed by fire. Continuity of the aileron and roll trim system was confirmed from both control yoke assemblies to the forward pulley gang, both kick out pulleys, and both aileron actuation pulleys. Continuity of the elevator was confirmed from both control yoke assemblies to the forward pulley gang, aft pulley gang, and rudder/elevator pulley gang. Continuity of the rudder p ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8157J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8157J-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 1370, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cirrus Design Corp. SR20 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1370 - Airframe hours: 319.5 - Engines: Continental IO-360-ES 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Aero Atlanta Flight Center - Registered owner: Attic Aircraft Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 30, 2004, 39.4 hours before - Departed: GRD, Greenwood, SC - Destination: RYY, Marietta, GA - Airport: GRD, Greenwood County, runway 27, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 7, 2003; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 847 total, 63 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: GRD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040419007439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040419007439A), Apr 19, 2004: Cirrus SR20, Greenwood, SC, Destroyed, 4 fatal. (-23) On April 19, 2004, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR-20, N8157J, departed from the Greenwood County Airport runway 27 and crashed into a wooded… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.