# NTSB ERA25LA111: Cirrus Design SR22, N406SR, New Lexington, OH, February 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 5, 2025, 16:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: New Lexington, OH - Coordinates: 39.689947, -82.205084 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6899&lon=-82.2051&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025 - 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): 199656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199656/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199656 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA111 ## Probable cause The pilot’s flight into previously forecasted freezing rain, which resulted in ice accretion, reduced forward visibility, and a subsequent landing undershoot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: freezing rain/sleet](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035040/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035040/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing package over 3 hours before departure on his first of two planned flight legs. The briefing indicated that freezing rain was forecast later that afternoon. He believed he would have more than enough time to make the first flight, perform his function at the destination airport, and fly the return leg while avoiding the freezing rain. Less than an hour after his briefing, and before departure on the first uneventful flight leg, the Aviation Weather Center issued graphical products specifying that freezing rain was forecast along the planned route and during the time of the planned returned leg. Before departing for the return (accident) flight leg, the pilot reviewed hourly surface observations at nearby airports along with weather radar returns on his tablet computer. After departing for the visual flight rules flight, he noted adverse weather and deviated to the east while “staying low.” He then encountered an area of freezing rain and turned on the airplane’s (weeping wing) ice protection system, flew through the area of freezing rain, turned further east, and continued the flight. The airplane again encountered freezing rain resulting in more ice accretion. Recognizing the need to land, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport and although the windshield defroster was functioning and “full heat and 3rd stage of [the] fan [were] on,” the freezing rain overcame the defroster’s ability and the windshield became obscured with ice, which reduced his forward visibility. The pilot flew over the alternate airport and entered a normal airport traffic pattern for landing. He was initially able to view the runway out of the airplane’s side window, but he lost sight of the runway when he turned onto final approach. The airplane subsequently touched down in a field about 385 ft short of the runway threshold. The pilot was seriously injured and airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its systems. He further stated that if he had known the flight was going to be in icing conditions he would not have departed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N406SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N406SR), registered now, S/N 2298, built 2006 (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-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2298 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N42B 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2024, 100 hours before - Departed: I69, Batavia, OH - Destination: DLZ, Delaware, OH - Airport: I86, Ed Newlon Field Airport, runway 08, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 18, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 1,380 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Icing: Clear - Observed at: KLHQ, 22 nm away - METAR: KLHQ 052130Z AUTO 07007KT 4SM FZRA OVC046 00/M05 A3017 RMK AO2 UPE24RAB10E19FZRAB24 P0002 I1001 T00001050 $ ## 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 20250205003909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250205003909A), Feb 5, 2025: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, New Lexington, OH, Substantial damage. While attempting to land in inclement weather, the aircraft (SR22) crash landed on public road (edge of road, berm causing substantial damage to the aircraft)… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199656. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19363275&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6210%20report_Recd%202%2025%202025_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversation (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19356940&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Kurt%20W%20Paulus%202%2010%202025%20v05%20w%20Addional%20Corrections_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather factual report (item 3, PDF, 19 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19364370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA111_weatherfactualSuffernfinal-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 6 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19372454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 470 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19358166&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_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.