# NTSB ERA26LA081: Cirrus Design SR20, N506SR, Louisburg, NC, December 30, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 30, 2025, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Louisburg, NC · Embankment East of Runway 23 @ LHZ - Coordinates: 36.025797, -78.324697 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0258&lon=-78.3247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026 - 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): 202225 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202225/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202225 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to compensate for gusting crosswind conditions and subsequent loss of directional control following an aborted go-around attempt, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: 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) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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: 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 the purpose of this flight was to perform closed-traffic pattern operations at the departure airport. Shortly after departure, the pilot noticed increased wind on the downwind leg and during the turn to final approach. Once on final approach, he initially flew at an indicated airspeed of 65 knots. The pilot then accelerated the airplane to 80 knots “to maintain control” and because “final approach was longer than usual, and the PAPIs [precision approach path indicators] indicated I was low.” He crossed the threshold left of the runway centerline, then at 15 to 20 ft above the runway, the pilot reduced engine power to idle. At the same time, he encountered a gust of wind and the airplane yawed to the left. The pilot attempted to perform a go-around, but touched down with the airplane’s nose pointed 20° to 25° left of the runway heading. He then reduced the engine power to idle and applied right brake to keep the airplane on the runway. The airplane continued to the left, departed the runway, and struck a lighting assembly for the precision approach path indicator. The airplane passed through an area of grass and impacted an embankment east of the runway. During the runway excursion, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N506SR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N506SR-2026-09-07), registration cancelled 2026-09-07, S/N 1692, built 2006 (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: [Continental IO-360-ES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-es) (registry code 17160, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1692 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 2487.1 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-360-ES 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mcknight Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Mcknight Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2025, 15 hours before - Departed: LHZ, Louisburg, NC - Airport: LHZ, Triangle North Exec, runway 23, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 108 total, 15 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: LHZ - METAR: METAR KLHZ 301435Z AUTO 28009G16KT 240V330 10SM CLR 00/M11 A3008 RMK AO2 ## 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 20251230019089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251230019089A), Dec 30, 2025: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Louisburg, NC, Substantial damage. On 12/30/2025 an SR20 departed Triangle North Executive Airport (klhz) at 1430Z/ 0930 EST for pattern practice at klhz. There were no passengers on board. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202225. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19796814&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA081%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19826709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA081%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.