# NTSB CEN14LA277: Cirrus Design SR22, N583KM, Durango, CO, June 1, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2014, 14:26 local (20:26 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.198612, -107.871665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1986&lon=-107.8717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 4, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Continental Motors, Cirrus Aircraft, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89377 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA277 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89377/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89377 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA277 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s decision to fly solo into an unfamiliar, mountain airport during high-wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power during the attempted go-around, which was caused by an over-rich mixture setting. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Engine controls: mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a solo flight from his home airport on the coast to an airport located in the mountains. Just before landing, the airplane encountered a "strong downward gust," likely due to a combination of high-wind conditions (the local weather was wind at 16 knots gusting to 24 knots about the time of the accident) and a steep terrain dropoff near the approach end of the runway. The pilot attempted a go-around, but the engine did not respond with full power. He subsequently lost control of the airplane, which then impacted left of the runway. The pilot reported that the mixture might have been "too rich" during the go-around attempt. Examination of the engine revealed excessive sooting on the spark plugs, which is indicative of an over-rich mixture condition; this condition likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power during the go-around attempt. The student pilot had not flown into the mountain airport before and had not been cleared to fly the route by a flight instructor. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2014, at 1426 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N583KM, impacted terrain on approach to the Animas Air Park (00C), Durango, Colorado. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), Santa Monica, California at 1116. The student pilot was conducting a solo slight from his home airport on the coast to an airport located in the mountains. Just prior to landing on Runway 01, he encountered a "strong downward gust (dust devil)." The pilot applied power to go around, but perceived that the engine did not respond normally. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground to the left of the runway and the left and right leading edges of the wing and the vertical stabilizer were damaged after colliding with ground obstacles. The pilot reported that the mixture might have been "too rich" during the go-around attempt. The weather observation station at Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), Durango, Colorado, located about 6 miles southeast of 00C reported the following conditions at 1353: wind 270 degrees at 16 knots, with gusts to 24 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 27 degrees Celsius (C), dew point minus 14 degrees C, altimeter setting 30.08. Density altitude for 00C at the time of the accident was calculated to be 9,376 feet. Terrain rises quickly to the west of 00C and a significant drop in elevation occurs just prior to the approach end of Runway 01. Because of this topography, large sink rates often occur near the threshold of Runway 01 when strong westerly winds are present, according to the airport manager. The student pilot's home airport was SMO and he flew nearly all of his 183 hours of flight training in the southern California area. He was not cleared for a solo flight to 00C, nor had he ever flown into 00C prior to the accident. His flight instructor had written "all solo flights require instructor release" in the endorsements section of his logbook. Review of recorded engine data revealed that the engine remained running during the event, but the fuel flow may have been too high for the field elevation/density altitude. Examination of the engine following the event revealed that all of the sparkplugs were covered in thick, black soot, consistent with carbon fouling and a mixture that was too rich. Examination of the cylinders via borescope revealed no anomalies with the pistons, cylinder barrels, cylinder heads, valves and valve seats. However, all of the components were covered in dark soot. The sparkplugs were cleaned and replaced in their respective cylinders and the engine was test run utilizing the airplane's fuel supply systemfrom the left fuel tank's outlet line and a substitute fuel tank. The engine ran normally throughout various power settings, including full power, with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N583KM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N583KM-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 0332, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0332 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 1296 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bucksbaum Robert - Registered owner: Bucksbaum Robert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2013, 169 hours before - Departed: KSMO, Santa Monica, CA - Destination: 00C, Durango, CO - Airport: 00C, Animas Air Park, runway 01, 5,010 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 183 total, 151 in this make and model, 24 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 16 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KDRO, 6 nm away ## 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 20140601009299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140601009299A), Jun 1, 2014: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Durango, CO, Destroyed. At about 20 feet above the runway, the aircraft dropped precipitously and turned abruptly to the left. The pilot lost control, and the aircraft departed the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89377. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Cockpit Display - NTSB Specialist's Report (item 2, .PDF, 496 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420350&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cockpit%20Display%20-%20NTSB%20Specialist%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - Cockpit Display – Raw Data (item 3, XLSX, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420351&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=Cockpit%20Display%20%E2%80%93%20Raw%20Data-Master - Engine Leaning Article (item 4, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Leaning%20Article-Master.PDF - Revised Factual Report (item 5, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Revised%20Factual%20Report-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.