# NTSB ERA22LA059: Cirrus Design SR22, N633CD, Burnsville, NC, November 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2021, 17:52 UTC - Place: Burnsville, NC - Coordinates: 35.868724, -82.341794 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8687&lon=-82.3418&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104241 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104241/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104241 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA059 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to compensate for the high density altitude and the tailwind component while landing at a mountaintop airport, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of aircraft control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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) - [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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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 The pilot was performing a visual approach to a mountaintop airport with an estimated density altitude of 9,860 ft, and a tailwind component. He stated he “carried some extra speed” during the approach to compensate for wind and turbulence that he described as “burpy.” As he started to flare, he got pushed hard to his left. He lowered the nose and increased engine power to abort the landing, but the airplane struck trees and a small building before coming to rest inside the wood line on the left side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Airport surveillance video depicted the airplane on approach, and as its attitude flattened in the landing flare, its nose and left wing deflected downward, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway where it struck trees and a building. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N633CD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N633CD), registered now, S/N 0369, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0369 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 2075 - Engines: Continental IO-550N 310 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Polaris Fire Protection Inc - Registered owner: Polaris Fire Protection Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2021 - Departed: FHB, Fernandina Beach, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 2NC0, Mountain Air, runway 14/32, 2,900 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 20, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,395 total, 2,198 in this make and model, 2,344 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KAVL, 28 nm away - METAR: KAVL 141754Z 23005KT 10SM CLR 11/M02 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP134 T01111017 10111 21022 58037 ## 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 20211114019489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211114019489A), Nov 14, 2021: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Burnsville, NC, Substantial damage. On 11/14/2021 at approximately 1200 local time, a Cirrus SR-22 aircraft, registration number N633CD, piloted by [privacy data omitted]sustained substantial… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104241. 823 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13066113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20reprint_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (FAA) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 924 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13068417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20PIlot%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13068016&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%2022LA059-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 4, AVI, 816 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13068357&FileExtension=avi&FileName=N633CD%20Landing%20Camera%205-Rel.avi 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.