# NTSB ERA12CA110: Cirrus Design SR22, N788SR, Farmville, VA, December 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 15, 2011, 19:40 local (Dec 16, 2011, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Farmville, VA - Coordinates: 37.354442, -78.436111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3544&lon=-78.4361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82526 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82526/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82526 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA110 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain the proper approach path, which resulted in a runway undershoot. ## 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 SR22, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the intention of the flight was to become night current. He was on the global positioning system approach and was lined up on the runway centerline with the approach lights in sight. At 500 feet above ground level, the pilot extended the wing flaps to the full down position. When the airplane was closer to the ground, the airspeed suddenly decreased and the rate of descent increased, and the pilot added full power in order to arrest the descent. The airplane, however, impacted trees and the ground about 2,000 feet prior to the runway. The airplane bounced twice and then landed on the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and came to rest in a grassy area. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the intention of the flight was to become night current. He was on the global positioning system approach, and was lined up on the runway centerline, with the approach lights in sight. At 500 feet above ground level, the pilot extended the wing flaps to the full down position. When the airplane was closer to the ground, the airspeed suddenly decreased and the rate of descent increased, thus the pilot added full power in order to arrest the descent. The airplane, however, impacted trees and the ground approximately 2,000 feet prior to the runway. The airplane bounced twice, and then proceeded to land on the runway. During the landing roll out, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and came to rest in a grassy area. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N788SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N788SR), registered now, S/N 2887, built 2007 (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: 2887 - Airframe hours: 665 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-N 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Neil O'Donohue - Registered owner: Neil O'Donohue - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 2011 - Departed: FVX, Farmville, VA - Destination: FVX, Farmville, VA - Airport: FVX, Farmville Regional Airport, runway 21, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 63 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: FVX ## 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 20111215028099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111215028099A), Dec 15, 2011: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Farmville, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot failed to maintain correct glide path, collided with obstructions and landed short. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82526. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FVX Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360390&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FVX%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane Damage (FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(FAA)-Master.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.