# NTSB CEN24FA073: Cirrus Design SR22, N858RC, Canton, TX, December 27, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report
- Date: December 26, 2023, 18:13 local (Dec 27, 2023, 00:13 UTC)
- Place: Canton, TX
- Coordinates: 32.616944, -95.868333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6169&lon=-95.8683&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Cirrus Aircraft, Federal Aviation Administration, North Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193570/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193570
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA073

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain the runway while landing at night, which resulted in an impact with trees.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 SR22, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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 SR22, 94 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was attempting a night visual approach to a private airport that had solar deck lights as runway lights. A witness heard the pilot make radio transmissions for the downwind, base, and final approach legs of the traffic pattern before the airplane impacted trees and terrain east of the runway. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces. Non-volatile data from the airplane showed the approach was approximately parallel to and about 340 ft east of the runway before the tree line, which the airplane struck. The data showed the airplane had minimal altimetry error. The data also showed that the engine operated with no anomalies throughout the approach and impact with terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity, as well as rotational and torsional features on the propeller blades and spinner consistent with engine operation. An autopsy was not performed on the pilot, so an incapacitating medical event could not be ruled out. It is likely that pilot performed an inadequate visual approach at night that resulted in a collision with terrain. Based on the available evidence, it was undetermined why the pilot performed an inadequate visual approach.

## Factual narrative

There were no instrument approaches published for the private airport. The runway had solar-powered deck lights along the edges of the runway. One set of lights along the runway was separated by about 140 ft and another light was separated by a distance greater than 140 ft. Deck lights were also at the end of the driveways and on a picnic table next to a refueling area. On December 26, 2023, about 1813 central standard time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR22, N858RC, was involved in an accident near Canton, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. A witness heard radio transmissions from the pilot of the airplane reporting that he was west of Thompson Field Airport (1TA7), Canton, Texas. He then heard additional radio transmissions from the pilot reporting the downwind, base, and final legs for runway 13. The witness stated that radio transmissions were normal. The witness went outside to observe the airplane, but he could not tell if it was lined up with the runway due to his vantage point. The airplane impacted trees, terrain, and came to rest against a house. The main wreckage was located about 960 ft from the approach end of runway 13 on a heading of 116°. Although an autopsy was requested by the NTSB, the local Justice of the Peace did not order an autopsy to be performed. Toxicology testing performed at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory found no drugs of abuse. The U.S. Naval Observatory reported that sunset was at 1725 and the end of civil twilight was at 1752. Moon rise was at 1801 and the phase of the moon was Waning Gibbous, with 99% of the moon’s visible disk illuminated. The airplane initially impacted a tree line about 40-50 ft in height that was about 250 ft from the house where the airplane came to rest. The wreckage path from the tree line to the house was approximately 250 ft long and a heading of 146°. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity from all control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The wings flaps were in the 50% position. The wreckage path contained the propeller blades, all of which were separated consistent with impact at the blade root. The propeller and propeller spinner displayed rotational and torsional features consistent with engine operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N858RC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N858RC), registered now, S/N 2939 (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-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2939
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 2649.4
- Engines: Continental Motors IO-550-N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2023
- Departed: ADS, Addison, TX
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 1TA7, Thompson Field Airport, runway 13, 2,500 × 40 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 26, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,273.5 total, 1,230.7 as pilot in command, 51.1 in the last 90 days, 12.7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KTRL, 23 nm away
- METAR: KTRL 270053Z AUTO 17005KT 10SM CLR 08/M01 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP142 T00831006

## 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 20231226021629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231226021629A), Dec 26, 2023: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Canton, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Airplane impacted trees and terrain and came to rest against a home

## Docket (13 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193570. 105 MB in all.

- Memorandum for record a�� aircraft examination (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19003512&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24FA073%20Examination-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18352692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport surveillance camera video (item 3, AVI, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18352682&FileExtension=avi&FileName=2023_12_27_08_29_40_970000_1_CH10-Rel.avi
- Pilot logbook (item 4, PDF, 37 pages, 72.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18351745&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Multiple electronic devices - specialist's factual report (item 5, PDF, 18 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17870114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Multiple%20Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN24FA073-Rel.pdf
- Attachment 1 to multiple electronic devices - specialist's factual report_avidyne PFD data (item 6, CSV, 862 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17869611&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Multiple%20Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN24FA073_Avidyne%20PFD%20Data%20-Rel.csv
- Attachment 2 to multiple electronic devices - specialist's factual report_avidyne MFD data (item 7, CSV, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17869621&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%202%20to%20Multiple%20Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN24FA073_Avidyne%20MFD%20Data%20-Rel.csv
- Memorandum for record a�� autopsy request (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19076997&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Autopsy%20Request-Rel.pdf
- Toxicological report - FAA (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18400706&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records (item 10, PDF, 18 pages, 14.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18403535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Documents%20-%20N858RC_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 11, PDF, 9 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18421618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18414441&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Haroldson,%20Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 13, PDF, 2 pages, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18403890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Bulk%20Wreckage%20Form_Redacted-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.

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