# NTSB CEN23LA104: Cirrus Design SF50, N426SJ, Waukesha, WI, February 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 8, 2023, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Waukesha, WI - Coordinates: 43.04163, -88.234731 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0416&lon=-88.2347&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: 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-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106702/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106702 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection removal of the angle of attack vane cover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Approach: Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff, he heard a noise that sounded like “gravel hitting the gear,” which continued after landing gear retraction, and prompted a return to the departure airport for a precautionary landing. He stated that while on the downwind leg, the stall warning aural alert sounded, and the stick shaker activated; the pilot used the autopilot disconnect button to regain control of the airplane. During touchdown, the airplane bounced and exited the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower forward fuselage. Following the accident, the pilot discovered that he had failed to remove the angle of attack vane cover. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N426SJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N426SJ), registered now, S/N 0148, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SF50 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SF50](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sf50) (registry code 2130010) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Williams FJ33-5A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/williams-fj33-5a) (registry code 66015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0148 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 680.6 - Engines: Williams International FJ33-5A 1846 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: MAG Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: UES, Waukesha County Airport, runway 28, 5,849 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 396 total, 51 in this make and model, 204 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: KUES - METAR: KUES 081545Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 01/M04 A3024 ## 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 20230208001249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230208001249A), Feb 8, 2023: Cirrus Design Corp SF50, Waukesha, WI, Substantial damage. On February 8, 2023 at approximately 10:00 local time, aircraft [privacy data omitted], a Cirrus SF50 aircraft, on a part 91 flight on an IFR flight plan with… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106702. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15174150&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 911 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15173792&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.