# NTSB ERA24LA068: Cirrus Design SR20, N875SB, Pahokee, FL, December 18, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 18, 2023, 17:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Pahokee, FL
- Coordinates: 26.784113, -80.693201 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7841&lon=-80.6932&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 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/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193542/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193542
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA068

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after encountering a wind gust during landing.

## 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 · 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)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The accident occurred during a transition training instructional flight, and the pilot receiving instruction had not previously logged any flight experience in the accident airplane make and model. The pilot receiving instruction reported that on final approach they entered a side slip to align with the runway. The airplane was stable approaching the threshold but once past the threshold the airplane started to drift to the right of the centerline. The pilot called for a go-around and controls were passed to the flight instructor. The flight instructor stated that 20-30 feet above the runway the tail began to swing from left to right and he took control of the airplane. The airplane floated over the runway for a few seconds while he used the rudder to compensate for the unexpected gust of wind. The flight instructor stated that the airplane became difficult to control before one wing contacted the runway. The tail structure separated from the fuselage and the fuselage, engine mount, and both wings were substantially damaged. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N875SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N875SB), registered now, S/N 2720, built 2021 (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 IO-390-C3B6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-c3b6) (registry code 42710, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2720
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 802.6
- Engines: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 215 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: SkyBlue Aviation
- Registered owner: C-Level Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 13, 2023
- Departed: F45, North Palm Beach, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PHK, Palm Beach County Glades, runway 36, 4,116 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 34; injuries: minor; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 1,605 total, 1,438 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days
- Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 379 total, 0 in this make and model, 298.6 as pilot in command, 107.7 in the last 90 days, 26.2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: 2IS, 19 nm away
- METAR: METAR K2IS 182235Z AUTO 31012KT 10SM CLR 17/10 A2992 RMK AO2 T01730100=

## 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 20231218019469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231218019469A), Dec 18, 2023: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Pahokee, FL, Destroyed. Part 61 operation, Cirrus SR-20 registration [privacy data omitted], serial number 2720 with two certificated flight instructors preforming to touch and go’s…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193542. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16743224&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA068%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16742331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA068%20ROC%20with%20CFI-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor statement follow-up (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16743582&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA068%20ROC%20with%20CFI%20follow-up-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16743311&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA068%20ROC%20with%20Student-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16743134&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA068%20Photo%20Array-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.