# NTSB ERA17CA137: Cirrus Design SR20, N782JR, Cleveland, TN, March 26, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 26, 2017, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, TN - Coordinates: 35.213611, -84.79972 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2136&lon=-84.7997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17CA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94918/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94918 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA137 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a premature rotation for a no-flap takeoff and subsequent loss of airplane control during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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) - [Flight control system: tE flap control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated; cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2130000), [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 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) ## Analysis The flight instructor was conducting an instructional flight in the airplane, which was owned by the student pilot. The flight instructor reported that he did not notice that the student pilot had not set the flaps to the appropriate position for takeoff, as required on the Before Takeoff checklist. Immediately after rotation, during the initial climb, the student pilot had difficulty maintaining directional control. The flight instructor took control of the airplane about 10 ft above the runway, the stall warning annunciator was audible, and the airplane began sinking. The flight instructor pushed the nose over but was unable to recover before the airplane landed hard and then departed the right side of the runway. The landing gear dug into the mud, the airplane then spun around, and the nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor was conducting an instructional flight in the airplane, which was owned by the student pilot. The flight instructor reported that he did not notice that the student pilot did not set the flaps to the appropriate position for takeoff, as required on the before takeoff checklist. Immediately after rotation, during the initial climb, the student pilot had difficulty maintaining directional control. The flight instructor took control of the airplane about 10 ft above the runway, the stall warning annunciator was audible, and the airplane began sinking. The flight instructor pushed the nose over but was unable to recover before the airplane landed hard and then departed the right side of the runway. The landing gear dug into the mud, the airplane then spun around and the nose gear and left main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N782JR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N782JR), registered now, S/N 2337, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360-ES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-es) (registry code 17160, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2337 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 201 - Engines: Continental IO-360-ES 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RZR, Cleveland, TN - Destination: EHO, SHELBYVILLE, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RZR, Cleveland Rgnl Jetport, runway 21, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,930 total, 146 in this make and model, 1,820 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken - Observed at: KRZR, 1 nm away ## 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 20170326008389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170326008389A), Mar 26, 2017: Cirrus SR20, Cleveland, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft attempted takeoff with flaps improperly positioned for planned rotate speed. ## Other investigations on N782JR (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA19CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA035), Oct 23, 2018: Cirrus SR20 (N782JR), Greenville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to land with a quartering tailwind and his improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94918. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455676&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photographs of Damage and Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs%20of%20Damage%20and%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.