# NTSB GAA15CA071: Cirrus Design SR22, N741CD, Atlanta, GA, May 14, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 14, 2015, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.875556, -84.30194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8756&lon=-84.3019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91175/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91175 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing. Contributing to this accident was the pilot's lack of experience with the airplane's performance characteristics during the approach resulting in a hard landing and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he initiated a steep descent for landing and that his final approach was high and fast. He reported the airplane made contact with the runway during the flare, and bounced during touchdown, resulting in a propeller strike and runway excursion. A post-accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Air Safety Inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The Air Safety Inspector stated the landing gear made contact with the left wing causing the damage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he initiated a steep descent for landing and that his final approach was high and fast. He reported the airplane made contact with the runway during the flare, and bounced during touchdown, resulting in a propeller strike and runway excursion. A post-accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Air Safety Inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The Air Safety Inspector stated the landing gear made contact with the left wing causing the damage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N741CD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 (No Series) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0137 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 1457 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 N7 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: N741cd LLC - Registered owner: N741cd LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 2014, 80 hours before - Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Destination: PDK, ATLANTA, GA - Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 03L, 3,746 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 269 total, 38 in this make and model, 130 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 2.7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: PDK ## 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 20150514007149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150514007149A), May 14, 2015: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot was on final with a steep decent for rwy 3L. He was flying in fast 90+ KTS which should be 80KTS. Pilot reduced the throttle and bounced the aircraft on… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91175. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record with Aviation Safety Inspector (Ricker) (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20with%20Aviation%20Safety%20Inspector%20(Ricker)-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record of Weather 191415APR2015 (KPDK) (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20of%20Weather%20191415APR2015%20(KPDK)-Master.PDF - Photograph 1: Substantial damage to Left wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20Left%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%20-Master.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.