# NTSB CEN25LA404: Cirrus SR20, N814, Watertown, WI, September 30, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 30, 2025, 09:03 local (14:03 UTC) - Place: Watertown, WI - Coordinates: 43.166317, -88.728042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1663&lon=-88.7280&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201758 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA404 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201758/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201758 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA404 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane following the student pilot’s bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in diminished airplane performance during the go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a primary instruction flight. The flight instructor reported that the surface wind was calm as they approached the airport to land. The flight instructor stated that the student pilot allowed the airplane to be “slightly high and fast” while on short final approach, but the airplane then joined a normal descent path as it continued toward the runway. The flight instructor estimated that the airplane was 5-10 knots faster than a normal landing speed as it flew over the runway identification numbers. At that point, the flight instructor told the student to reduce engine power to idle, transition his sight picture down the runway, and allow the airplane to decelerate during the landing flare. The airplane bounced upon touchdown, ballooned, descended, and then bounced a second time before the flight instructor took control of the airplane from the student pilot. The flight instructor then increased engine power, increased right rudder input, and pitched for a level attitude to increase airspeed for a go-around. The airplane did not accelerate and bounced for a third time, this time with the stall warning horn audible. The flight instructor reduced the wing flaps from 100% to 50% to gain additional airspeed while flying in ground effect, but she noted that the airplane had ineffective roll and yaw control. She reduced engine power to idle as the airplane drifted left, struck a runway edge light, and departed off the left side of the runway. The airplane then entered an area of high vegetation where it spun around to a stop. The airplane’s aft fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. The flight instructor did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N814](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N814), registered now, S/N 1281, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS SR20 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1281 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 2792.4 - Engines: Continental IO-360-ES 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wisconsin Aviation - Four Lakes Inc., doing business as Wisconsin Aviation - Registered owner: Wisconsin Aviation - Four Lakes Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 22, 2025, 2 hours before - Departed: RYV, Watertown, WI - Destination: RYV, Watertown, WI - Airport: RYV, Watertown Municipal Airport, runway 23, 4,429 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 11, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 599 total, 9 in this make and model, 436 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10 total, 6 in this make and model, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KRYV - METAR: METAR KRYV 301355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/18 A3025 RMK AO2 T01800178 ## 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 20250930016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250930016169A), Sep 30, 2025: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Watertown, WI, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on a training flight with a CFI and student onboard. Aircraft was landing at ryv. While touching down on the runway aircraft bounced and became… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201758. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19752248&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19752434&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs%20(CEN25LA404)_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.