# NTSB CEN11CA496: Cirrus SR20, N93TA, Battle Creek, MI, July 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2011, 15:16 local (19:16 UTC) - Place: Battle Creek, MI - Coordinates: 42.301387, -85.245552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3014&lon=-85.2456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA496 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81191/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81191 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA496 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot executed a go-around after the airplane's pitch angle for the approach was too high. He then attempted another approach with a lower angle but at a somewhat faster approach speed with idle engine power. During the landing attempt, the airplane landed hard, bounced twice before the student pilot applied full engine power and retracted flaps from 100 percent to 50 percent in order to execute a go-around. The airplane then veered off the left side of the runway and impacted terrain and a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and wing. The pilot student reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot executed a go-around after the airplane's descent angle for the approach was too high. He then attempted another approach with a lower descent angle but at a somewhat faster approach speed with idle engine power. During the landing attempt, the airplane experienced a hard landing in a flat attitude and bounced twice before the pilot applied full engine power and retracted flaps from 100 percent to 50 percent. The airplane then veered off the left side of the runway and impacted terrain and a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93TA), registered now, S/N 1683, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS SR20 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360-ES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-es) (registry code 17160, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1683 - Airframe hours: 2358 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-360-ES 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Western Michigan University - Registered owner: Brown Aviation Lease, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 29, 2011 - Departed: BTL, Battle Creek, MI - Destination: BTL, Battle Creek, MI - Airport: BTL, W K Kellogg Airport, runway 23L, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 49 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: BTL ## 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 20110720014589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110720014589A), Jul 20, 2011: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Battle Creek, MI, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2011, approximately 1516 EDT, a Cirrus SR-20, N93TA sustained substantial damage when the airplane performed a hard bounce followed by another hard… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81191. 738 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 440 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352533&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Operator Report (item 2, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.