# NTSB CEN22LA107: Cirrus Design SR20, N42VR, Angola, IN, January 21, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 20, 2022, 19:00 local (Jan 21, 2022, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Angola, IN - Coordinates: 41.638739, -85.084952 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6387&lon=-85.0850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104554/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104554 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA107 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate terrain clearance during an approach. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action when the airplane descended too low after transitioning to a visual descent to the runway. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The cross-country flight was being conducted by a flight instructor and pilot in conjunction with an instrument rating course from a Part 141 flight school. According to the flight instructor, upon reaching the decision altitude, they transitioned to a visual descent to the runway. During the descent, the airplane impacted trees and the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and continued to the runway for landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and both horizontal stabilizers. The pilot stated that after terminating use of the view limiting device and she transitioned to visual references, she continued to glance back at the glideslope indicator, which showed that they were low on the approach. Shortly thereafter, a tree appeared in front of them, about the same time as they felt the impact. She stated that the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) would not turn on and there was not a current Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) for the outage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42VR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42VR), registered now, S/N 1673, built 2006 (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: 1673 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 7141 - Engines: Continental Motors IO360-ES27B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Board Of Trustees Of Western Michigan University - Registered owner: Board Of Trustees Of Western Michigan University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2021 - Departed: KBTL, Battle Creek, WI - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ANQ, Tri-State Steuben County, runway 05, 4,540 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 335 total, 260 in this make and model, 278 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 17, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 132 total, 43 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.50 inHg - Observed at: KGWB, 20 nm away - METAR: KGWB 202335Z AUTO 34007KT 10SM OVC045 M07/M13 A3050 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220120000779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220120000779A), Jan 20, 2022: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Angola, IN, Substantial damage. On 01/20/2022 at approximately 1900 EDT N42VR, an aircraft [privacy data omitted] by the[privacy data omitted], received substantial damage when it impacted… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104554. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13186765&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 450 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.