# NTSB GAA16CA251: Cirrus SR22, N27ML, Church Hill, MD, April 21, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 20, 2016, 22:00 local (Apr 21, 2016, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Church Hill, MD - Coordinates: 39.139742, -75.985247 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1397&lon=-75.9852&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93224 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93224/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93224 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA251 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on an unlighted grass airstrip at night, resulting in landing long, a loss of directional control, and collapsed landing gear producing substantial damage to the landing gear attachment point and left wing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 SR22T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: airport lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017010/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was landing on a remote, unlighted, airstrip at night, and reported that on approach he had remained high for obstacle clearance. He reported that upon touchdown he immediately applied maximum braking, and the airplane started to slow. However, the end of the runway was approaching rapidly and he believed that a runway overrun was imminent. He reported that he released the left brake input and held the right brake input in an attempt to turn the airplane to the right; aiming for an open field. He recalled that the airplane turned to the right, exited the runway, rotated to the right while skidding, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment point and a left wing rib. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was landing on a remote, unlighted, airstrip at night, and reported that on approach he had remained high for obstacle clearance. He reported that upon touchdown he immediately applied maximum braking, and the airplane started to slow. However, the end of the runway was approaching rapidly and he believed that a runway overrun was imminent. He reported that he released the left brake input and held the right brake input in an attempt to turn the airplane to the right; aiming for an open field. He recalled that the airplane turned to the right, exited the runway, rotated to the right while skidding, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment point and a left wing rib. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27ML](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27ML), registered now, S/N 1269, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS SR22 (T) - 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: 1269 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 32 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-K 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: HAM Aviation LLC - Registered owner: HAM Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SBY, SALISBURY, MD - Destination: PVT, Church Hill, MD - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 30, 2,900 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 377 total, 31 in this make and model, 377 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KDOV, 5 nm away ## 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 20160420005989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160420005989A), Apr 20, 2016: Cirrus CIRRUS-SR22, Church Hill, MD, Substantial damage. On April 20, 2016, at or around 9:30 pm, ^Mr. Lesniowski^ was the pilot flying his SR-22. ^Mr. Lesniowski^ and his wife were the only persons in the aircraft.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93224. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 362 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.