- Date
- February 28, 2013, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Brunswick, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N135CDCirrus Design SR20
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130228003339A
- Case key
- 86327
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a strong, gusting crosswind.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the approach to the runway, he listened to the automatic terminal information service, which noted that the wind was from 270 degrees at 16 knots and gusting to 26 knots. The pilot chose to continue the approach and, during the landing flare, a gust of wind forced the airplane left and down. The left wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright in a grassy area off the left side of the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the left wing, right flap, undercarriage, propeller, and firewall. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He had accumulated a total flight experience of 84 hours of which 12 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during approach to runway 22, he listened to the automatic terminal information service, which noted the wind from 270 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The pilot elected to continue the approach and during the landing flare, a gust of wind forced the airplane left and down, off the left side of the runway. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest upright in a grassy area off the left side of the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the left wing, right flap, undercarriage, propeller and firewall. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He had accumulated a total flight experience of 84 hours; of which, 12 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N135CD
- Reported as
- Cirrus Design SR20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1022
- Airframe hours
- 852
- Engine
- Continental IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kenton C Harrison
- Registered owner
- Copy Right Express
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 16, 2012 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- HXD · Hilton Head Isl, SC
- Destination
- SSI · Brunswick, GA
- Airport
- SSI · Malcolm McKinnon Airport, runway 22, 5,584 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 25, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 84 total · 12 in this make and model · 24 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- SSI
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N135CD · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.