# NTSB ERA26LA157: Cirrus Design SR22T, N778WT, Mount Pleasant, SC, March 31, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 31, 2026, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Mount Pleasant, SC - Coordinates: 32.823786, -79.806749 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8238&lon=-79.8067&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 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): 202744 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202744/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202744 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA157 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with uneven terrain during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the student pilot were on a multi-leg cross-country flight, and conducted an overflight of the private-use airport’s 2,400-ft-long by 100-ft-wide turf runway to assess its condition. They observed no obstacles or wildlife and landed uneventfully. After performing a preflight inspection of the airplane, the flight instructor planned to perform a soft-field takeoff. The flight instructor reported that during the takeoff roll, it felt as if the left main landing gear struck something, after which the airplane suddenly began a hard turn to the left. The flight instructor applied full right rudder and reduced engine power in an attempt to regain control; however, the airplane exited the runway and struck water adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator during the accident sequence. The flight instructor and the student pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An FAA inspector who examined the runway after the accident observed noticeable areas of uneven ground, as well as various low and high spots that were the result of ant hills, mole tunnels, and ground settling. Given this information, it is likely that one of the airplane’s main landing gear briefly contacted one of these areas of uneven ground during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane’s left turn and the subsequent runway excursion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N778WT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N778WT), registered now, S/N 2290, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22T - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22t) (registry code 2130004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-k) (registry code 17410, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2290 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 402.4 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-K 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SC65, Mount Pleasant, SC - Destination: OPF, Opa-Locka, FL - Airport: SC65, Raven'S Run, runway 33, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Data recorder, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 9, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 899 total, 34 in this make and model, 810.4 as pilot in command, 191.8 in the last 90 days, 63.9 in the last 30 days, 4.4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: KLRO, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KLRO 312335Z AUTO 15007KT 8SM CLR 20/18 A3024 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 20260331003449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260331003449A), Mar 31, 2026: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T, Mt Pleasant, SC, Substantial damage. During departure, while performing a soft-field takeoff, a bump was felt by the PIC from the left main gear and a very sudden and hard turn to the left.… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202744. 12.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (instructor) (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20628326&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor%206120%20Form_Redacted2-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (student pilot/owner) (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20516281&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Owner%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector runway examination (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20516205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Runway%20Description-Rel.pdf - AFM excerpt - castering nose wheel (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20515457&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AFM%20Excerpt%20-%20Free%20Castering%20Nosewheel-Rel.pdf - AFM excerpt - flaps (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20516291&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AFM%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Rdm data download (item 6, CSV, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20515467&FileExtension=csv&FileName=arinc_20260403_100328_822-Rel.csv - Investigation photographs (item 7, PDF, 7 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20515999&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%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.