# NTSB ERA09LA189: Cirrus Design SR22, N574PG, Montauk, NY, March 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2009, 11:47 local (16:47 UTC) - Place: Montauk, NY - Coordinates: 41.034273, -71.954054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0343&lon=-71.9541&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Cirrus Design Corporation, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73459 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73459/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA189 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 SR22, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 SR22, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2130001), [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 · 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) instructed his student to simulate a soft-field takeoff. The student began the takeoff roll, rotated, and momentarily got the airplane into ground effect. The main landing gear then settled back onto the runway, the airplane rolled and yawed to the right, and then collided with a ditch. The CFI had never demonstrated the accident maneuver to the student nor did he provide any formal ground instruction on its execution. There was no formal exchange of aircraft control between the student and CFI, and the student remained on the controls throughout the accident sequence as the CFI tried to effect a recovery. Neither the CFI nor student reported any flight control anomalies or malfunctions and examination of the wreckage did not reveal any. A weather observation at the accident airport about the time of the accident indicated that the wind was calm. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2009, about 1147 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR-22, N574PG, crashed into a ditch during a simulated soft field takeoff at Montauk Airport (MTP), Montauk, New York. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The student pilot stated that the CFI wanted him to do a simulated "short-field" takeoff. The student pilot pulled back on the elevator, added full power, and began the takeoff roll. As the airplane began to accelerate, the nose of the airplane rose, and he attempted to put the airplane into ground effect. The main gear touched down, and the airplane began to veer off of the runway. The student pilot stated that they both attempted to regain control of the airplane, but the right wing contacted the runway, and they collided with a ditch. The student pilot stated that he never let go of the controls after the instructor tried making a recovery. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems or flight control anomalies with the airplane. According to the CFI, he instructed his student to simulate a soft-field takeoff. He said that he instructed the student to begin the takeoff roll, rotate, and get the airplane into ground effect. The airplane climbed briefly, and then the main landing gear settled back down to the runway. The airplane began to roll and yaw to the right, and then collided with a ditch. The CFI stated that there was no positive exchange of flight controls with the student. The CFI did not report any mechanical problems or flight control anomalies with the airplane. In addition, he stated he had never demonstrated the accident maneuver to the student nor did he provide any formal ground instruction to the student on its execution. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed flight control continuity throughout the airframe. A weather observation at MTP about the time of the accident, indicated the wind was calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N574PG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N574PG-2013-07-31), registration cancelled 2013-07-31, S/N 3198, built 2008 (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: 3198 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: Continental IO-550-N 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air Box LLC - Registered owner: Air Box LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 2009, 12 hours before - Departed: MTP, Montauk, NY - Destination: MTP, Montauk, NY - Airport: MTP, Montauk Airport, runway 24, 3,481 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,910 total, 52 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MTP ## 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 20090307004169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090307004169A), Mar 7, 2009: Cirrus SR22, Montauk, NY, Destroyed. (-23) The control cable continuity was found to be complete at the accident scene. The pilot in command indicated that the controls were free and moveable, and… 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.