# NTSB CEN25LA069: Cirrus Design SF50, N603AP, Spearfish, SD, January 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 3, 2025, 23:38 local (Jan 4, 2025, 06:38 UTC) - Place: Spearfish, SD · runway - Coordinates: 44.480525, -103.78305 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4805&lon=-103.7831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 18, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards, Cirrus Design Corporation - NTSB case key (mKey): 199508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to land on the centerline of the snow-covered runway at night, which resulted in the left wing impacting a snowbank, a subsequent loss of directional control, and runway excursion. ## 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 SF50, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SF50, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2130010), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the flight proceeded uneventfully until landing. The air traffic controller advised that the runway was covered with 1/8” of wet snow and braking action was reported as good. The pilot noted the airport was in sight about 4 miles out, and he executed a straight-in approach to runway 13. He verified that the landing gear was down. His intention was to touchdown at the landing reference speed (Vref) to minimize the need for braking. The airplane was lined up with the extended runway centerline and the pilot disconnected the autopilot about 2 miles from the runway. The pilot recalled that during landing, about 8 to 10 feet above ground level (agl), he received an aerodynamic stall warning with the stick shaker. At first, the touchdown seemed normal, but then the airplane started to drift to the left. The pilot’s efforts to maintain directional control were not successful. The airplane “lurched hard” when it impacted the snowbank along the left side of the runway. When the airplane came to rest, the pilot shut down the engine, and the airplane was evacuated. One of the passengers confirmed 3-green landing gear down lights while on approach. The airplane appeared to be slightly left of the runway centerline and quickly drifted to the left after it touched down. When left wing caught the snowbank the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The wind was almost calm when the passenger exited the airplane. Another passenger estimated about 2 to 3 inches of snow was covering the runway when they evacuated the airplane. An examination of the accident site revealed runway wheel marks (compressed snow) corresponding to the airplane beginning about 150 ft before the touchdown zone (1,000-ft) markers. At touchdown, the left main wheel was 6 to 8 ft from the left side of the runway (about 30 ft left of centerline), and the airplane appeared to depart the left side of the runway about 140 ft after the beginning of the wheel tracks. The snowbanks on each side of the runway were 2 to 3 ft high. Onboard data indicated that the airplane crossed the runway arrival threshold at 92 KIAS. The airplane touched down about 5 seconds later at 85 KIAS. It subsequently departed the left side of the runway and came to rest about 1,400 ft from the threshold. The data did not record any activation of the stall warning system. Postaccident examination revealed damage to the outboard right wing. The left main landing gear remained extended; however, the right main landing gear was retracted in the wheel well. Further examination revealed the right main landing gear actuator housing was fractured along the length of the housing. The fracture surface exhibited features consistent with an overstress failure. Additionally, the housing was deformed outward at the fracture consistent with an overpressure event. It is likely that the right main landing gear down lock was moved to the unlocked position when the airplane encountered the snowbank during the runwayexcursion. Without the down lock engaged, sideloading of the landing gear resulted in excessive hydraulic pressure within the actuator, an overstress fracture, and outward deformation of the housing. Once the hydraulic pressure was relieved due to the actuator failure the right main landing gear collapsed. The right tire likely went flat during this time. The airplane flight manual specified approach speeds of 91 KIAS and 96 KIAS with 50% flaps and operating weights of 5,000 lbs. and 5,550 lbs., respectively. Aerodynamic stall speeds with 50% flaps and 0° angle of bank were noted at 72 KIAS and 74 KIAS at operating weights of 5,200 lbs. and 5,550 lbs., respectively. The available information revealed that the landing approach was performed at an appropriate airspeed and the airplane touched down under control. However, it touched down left of the runway centerline due to the snow-covered runway and night lighting conditions. Once the left wing and left main landing gear struck the snow bank bordering the runway, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the runway. The data did not indicate any mechanical failures or malfunctions with respect to the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative On January 3, 2025, about 2338 mountain standard time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SF-50 airplane, N603AP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Spearfish, South Dakota. The pilot and five passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported the flight proceeded uneventfully until landing. The air traffic controller advised him that the Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field (SPF) runway was covered with 1/8” of wet snow and runway braking action was reported as 5/5/5 (touchdown/midpoint/rollout). The pilot noted the airport was in sight about 4 miles out, and he executed a straight-in approach to runway 13. He verified that the landing gear was down. His intention was to touchdown at the landing reference speed (Vref) to minimize the need for braking. The airplane was lined up with the extended runway centerline and the pilot disconnected the autopilot about 2 miles from the runway. The pilot recalled receiving an aerodynamic stall warning and stick shaker activation about 8 to 10 ft above ground level (agl) during landing. At first, the touchdown seemed normal, but then the airplane started to drift to the left. The pilot’s efforts to maintain directional control were not successful. The airplane “lurched hard” when it impacted the snowbank along the left side of the runway. When the airplane came to rest, the pilot shut down the engine, and the airplane was evacuated. One of the passengers reported that he was seated behind the right-side co-pilot seat and had a “good view” out of the windshield. He confirmed seeing the 3-green landing gear down lights while on approach. He noted that the airplane appeared to be aligned with the runway but was slightly left of the centerline. As the airplane touched down, it quickly drifted to the left. The left wing then caught the snowbank, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The airplane ultimately came to rest with the nose perpendicular to and facing the runway. The passenger recalled that when he exited the airplane, the wind was almost calm. Another passenger estimated about 2 to 3 inches of snow was covering the runway when they evacuated the airplane. The onboard recoverable data module (RDM) provided flight and engine parameter data for the accident flight. The data indicated that the airplane crossed the SOPHI final approach fix on the RNAV (GPS) runway 13 approach about 2335:20 at 5,389 ft and 168 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). The wing flaps were configured at 50% at that time. About 12 seconds later, the autopilot captured the glidepath. The autopilot disconnected at 2336:56 when the airplane was about 1.6 nm from the runway. This was consistent with the pilot’s statement regarding intentionally disconnecting the autopilot during the approach before landing. According to the RDM data, the airplane crossed the runway arrival threshold at 2337:49. The altitude andairspeed were about 3,904 ft and 92 KIAS, respectively. About 5 seconds later, the airplane touched down about 820 ft past the runway threshold at 85 KIAS. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and came to rest about 1,400 ft from the threshold. The aerodynamic stall warning parameter was not active at any point during the accident flight. Weight on wheel data was not an available parameter on the RDM. An examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector the following day revealed runway wheel marks (compressed snow) corresponding to the accident airplane beginning about 150 ft before the touchdown zone (1,000-ft) markers. At touchdown, the left main wheel was 6 to 8 ft from the left side of the runway (about 30 ft left of centerline), and the airplane appeared to depart the left side of the runway about 140 ft after the beginning of the wheel tracks. The snowbanks on each side of the runway were 2 to 3 ft high. The airplane struck two runway edge lights during the runway excursion. A postaccident examination by the FAA inspectors revealed damage to the outboard right wing including partial separation of the right aileron. The left main landing gear remained extended; however, the right main landing gear was retracted in the wheel well, and the nose landing gear was collapsed. Further examination revealed the right main landing gear actuator was fractured along the length of the housing. The fracture surface exhibited features consistent with an overstress failure. Additionally, the housing was deformed outward at the fracture consistent with an overpressure event. The right main landing gear tire was flat. The airplane flight manual specified approach reference speeds of 91 KIAS and 96 KIAS with 50% flaps and operating weights of 5,000 lbs. and 5,500 lbs., respectively. Aerodynamic stall speeds with 50% flaps and 0° angle of bank were noted at 72 KIAS and 74 KIAS at operating weights of 5,200 lbs. and 5,550 lbs., respectively. Data recovered from the onboard Centralized Maintenance Computer (CMC) included multiple engine parameters. Specifically, the engine interstage turbine temperature (ITT), compressor speed, turbine speed, oil temperature, and oil pressure. Each of these parameters remained within the specified limits for the duration of the accident flight. This was consistent with normal engine operation during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N603AP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N603AP), registered now, S/N 0057, built 2018 (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: 0057 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 912.8 - Engines: Williams International FJ33-5A 1846 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Foxtrot Jet LLC, doing business as N/A - Registered owner: Foxtrot Jet LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2024, 121.6 hours before - Departed: STP, St. Paul, MN - Destination: SPF, Spearfish, SD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SPF, Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field, runway 13, 6,401 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 11, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,258 total, 28 in this make and model, 3,171 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KSPF - METAR: METAR KSPF 040635Z AUTO 14007KT 7SM -SN SCT036 SCT042 OVC049 M10/M11 A3008 ## 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 20250103000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250103000139A), Jan 3, 2025: Cirrus Design Corp SF50, Spearfish, SD, Substantial damage. On 1/3/2025 at 2330 a Cirrus SF-50 registered to [privacy data omitted] was substantially damaged when it left the runway after touchdown during a personal… ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199508. 72.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20727039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA069_redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger statements (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20763829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Passenger%20Statements%20--%20CEN25LA069_redacted-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20762965&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA(Caneva)_06Jan2025-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 964 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20744937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN25LA069-Rel.pdf - Recoverable data module - specialist's factual report_CEN25LA069 (item 5, PDF, 23 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18735241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Recoverable%20Data%20Module%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN25LA069-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to recoverable data module - specialist's factual report_accflt tabular data (item 6, CSV, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18734823&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Recoverable%20Data%20Module%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN25LA069-accFLT%20Tabular%20Data-Rel.csv - Attachment 2 to recoverable data module - specialist's factual report_preflt tabular data (item 7, CSV, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18735308&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%202%20to%20Recoverable%20Data%20Module%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN25LA069-preFLT%20Tabular%20Data-Rel.csv - Recoverable data module -- airplane position data (google earth format) (item 8, KMZ, 669 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20763541&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=CEN25LA069_accFlt-Rel.kmz - Centralized maintenance computer data file -- accident flight (item 9, CSV, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20762648&FileExtension=csv&FileName=CMC%20Data%20File%20--%20Accd%20Flt-Rel.csv - Maintenance records -- airframe (item 10, PDF, 5 pages, 31.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20762975&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Airframe_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- engine (item 11, PDF, 2 pages, 13.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20763299&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Engine_redacted-Rel.pdf - Airplane flight manual -- excerpt (item 12, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20767010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cirrus%20SF50%20Airplane%20Flight%20Manual%20--%20Excerpt_redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20766852&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20%20--%20CEN25LA069%20(Cirrus)_redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 14, PDF, 2 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20771954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20--%20CEN24LA069_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. --- 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.