# NTSB GAA16CA256: Cirrus Design SR20, N323FT, South St Paul, MN, May 14, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 14, 2016, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: South St Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.8525, -93.03083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8525&lon=-93.0308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93231 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93231/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93231 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive nose high pitch attitude, which resulted in a tail strike during the landing flare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 528 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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 SR20, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing flare the airplane impacted the ground in a slight nose high pitch attitude, which resulted in a tail strike. The pilot further reported that he taxied to the ramp area without further incident. A postaccident examination by the pilot revealed substantial damage to the rudder. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing flare the airplane impacted the ground in a slight nose high pitch attitude, which resulted in a tail strike. The pilot further reported that he taxied to the ramp area without further incident. A postaccident examination by the pilot revealed substantial damage to the rudder. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N323FT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N323FT), registered now, S/N 1432, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1432 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 3147 - Engines: Continental IO-360-E5 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2016 - Departed: SGS, South St Paul, MN - Destination: SGS, South St Paul, MN - Airport: SGS, South St Paul Muni-Richard E F, runway 34, 4,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,493.3 total, 113.6 in this make and model, 1,420 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 14.6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 16 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KSGS ## 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 20160514005459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160514005459A), May 14, 2016: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, South Saint Pau, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting charity flight and had completed approximently eight landings prior to a hard landing. The hard landing resulted in substantial tail… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93231. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Damage Assessment (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Assessment-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.