# NTSB ERA22LA352: Cirrus Design SR20, N459BT, Nixon, PA, August 3, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 3, 2022, 12:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Nixon, PA - Coordinates: 40.776776, -79.949818 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7768&lon=-79.9498&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105658 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105658/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105658 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA352 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing, resulting in a runway excursion. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane’s right side door was properly secured prior to departing on the accident flight, and his subsequent distraction due to the door during the landing attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) - [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 SR20, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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 pilot reported, that while departing from the runway the right cockpit door opened. The pilot was unable to close the door and he decided to return to the airport to close the door on the ground. While on final approach and near the runway, the pilot thought he heard the stall warning horn, so he immediately flared the airplane to land. The airplane bounced twice on the runway, so the pilot attempted to abort the landing by advancing the throttle. The airplane veered to the left, exited the runway, and the pilot reduced the throttle in an attempt to maintain directional control. The airplane then struck the runway’s precision approach path indicator before coming to rest in a ditch. The airplane’s firewall was substantially damaged. Following the accident, the pilot stated, “In hindsight I don't think the sound I heard was the stall warning horn, but rather the sound squealing through the partially open door which confused me into thinking the aircraft had stalled.” Given this information, it is likely that the pilot was distracted by the open right door during the landing, which contributed to his loss of control during the landing attempt. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident reported that she did not observe evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and specifically that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane’s right door latch. Given this information, it is also likely that the pilot had failed to ensure that the door was properly secured prior to departing on the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N459BT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N459BT), registered now, S/N 1225, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-ES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-es) (registry code 41596, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1225 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 1660 - Engines: Continental IO-360-ES 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2022, 20 hours before - Destination: AOO, Altoona, PA - Airport: BTP, Pittsburgh/Butler Rgnl, runway 26, 4,801 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 21, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 598 total, 96 in this make and model, 553 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BTP - METAR: KBTP 031656Z AUTO 20006KT 10SM CLR A3004 RMK AO2 SLPNO FZRANO TSNO $ ## 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 20220803014029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220803014029A), Aug 3, 2022: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Butler, PA, Substantial damage. During departure and climb, the pilot noticed the copilot door ajar. The pilot attempted to close the door with no success. The pilot flew the normal pattern… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105658. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14312084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20459BT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15591025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-ERA22LA352-FAA2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15232494&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA352-%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Aircraft damage assessment and repair estimate - airquest aviation (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15590851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DamageEstimate-N459BT_Redacted-Rel.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.