# NTSB ERA26LA345: Cirrus Design SR20, N189WM, Asheville, NC, September 19, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: September 19, 2026, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Asheville, NC - Coordinates: 35.481407, -82.575071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4814&lon=-82.5751&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Cirrus, Lycoming, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203847 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA345 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203847/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA345 ## Preliminary report On September 19, 2026, at 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR-20, N189WM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Ashville, North Carolina. The flight instructor and the student pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that, during the pre-takeoff run-up, while checking the magnetos, the engine rpm dropped by 100 on the right and 150 on the left. Unable to resolve the discrepancy, they taxied back and troubleshot the issue further with the chief flight instructor. The flight instructor was informed that the anomaly was discovered on previous flights and that the mixture needed to be precisely leaned for density altitude. They were departing from Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) Asheville, North Carolina, which had a field elevation of 2,163 ft. After receiving the information, the pilot leaned the fuel mixture, and the magneto check was within limits. No further anomalies were observed. After taxi out, while holding short of the takeoff runway, the instructor performed another engine run-up and checked the magnetos, which yielded normal results. During the takeoff roll, all gauges and indications were reading normal, and the engine was performing normally during the takeoff roll and climb out. During the later stages of the climb, the instructor noticed that the engine cylinder head temperatures (CHTs) were reading a little high, so he enriched the mixture to keep the CHT below 400°. About 10 seconds after adding mixture, while at an altitude of about 3,000 ft, mean sea level the engine lost all power. The instructor took over the controls, turned back toward the airport, and declared an emergency. His attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and he pitched for best glide speed. During the descent, they were still over mountainous terrain at 2,000 ft above ground level and the flight instructor determined it was too risky to activate the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) so he aimed towards the first open field and intended to pull the CAPS as soon as they arrived over the field or at 800 ft agl, “whichever came first.” Once over the field, the instructor activated the CAPS; the parachute deployed and the airplane descended and settled onto the field. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed, and the engine compartment and airframe forward of the cockpit were substantially damaged. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N189WM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N189WM), registered now, S/N 2507, built 2019 (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: 2507 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 782 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: NC Mountain Aero LLC, doing business as NC Mountain Aero LLC - Registered owner: Sanborn-Hill Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2026, 9 hours before - Airport: AVL, Asheville Rgnl, runway 17/35, 8,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot, Data recorder ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 3 nm away - METAR: METAR KAVL 191454Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 26/19 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02560194 51005 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.