# NTSB CEN12CA576: Cirrus Design SR20, N215VS, Watkins, CO, August 25, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2012, 10:58 local (16:58 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.766666, -104.525001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7667&lon=-104.5250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 84819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA576 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84819/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84819 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA576 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/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: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 35. While on final approach for his third touch-and-go landing, the pilot felt a buffet and anticipated gusting wind conditions during the touchdown. About 200 feet above the ground, the stall warning horn sounded briefly and the airplane "dropped straight down." The airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced several times. The pilot added power in an attempt to go around; however, the airplane did not respond and impacted the runway again in a nose-low attitude. During the accident sequence the nose landing gear separated, the propeller was damaged, and the firewall wrinkled. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 35. While on final approach for his third touch-and-go, the pilot felt a buffet and anticipated gusting wind conditions during the touchdown. Approximately 200 feet above the ground the stall warning horn sounded briefly and the airplane "dropped straight down." The airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced several times. The pilot added power in attempt to go around; however, the airplane did not respond and impacted the runway again in a nose low attitude. During the accident sequence the nose landing gear separated, the propeller was damaged, and the firewall wrinkled. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N215VS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N215VS), registered now, S/N 1334, 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-ES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-es) (registry code 17160, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1334 - Airframe hours: 962 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-ES6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 2012 - Departed: KFTG, Watkins, CO - Destination: KFTG, Watkins, CO - Airport: KFTG, Front Range Airport, runway 35, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 262 total, 92 in this make and model, 202 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KFTG ## 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 20120825019509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120825019509A), Aug 25, 2012: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Watkins, CO, Substantial damage. On 08/25/2012 at approximately 1058 hrs. MDT, N215VS, a Cirrus Design Corp. Model SR20 aircraft sustained substantial damage while landing at Front Range… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84819. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.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.