# NTSB GAA18CA308: Cirrus Design SR22, N269DW, Cedar Key, FL, May 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2018, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Cedar Key, FL - Coordinates: 29.134166, -83.050552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1342&lon=-83.0506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97347 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97347/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97347 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA308 ## Probable cause The airplane’s collision with multiple birds during initial climb, which damaged the propeller and resulted in a subsequent aerodynamic stall because the airspeed could not be maintained. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during initial climb, about 90 ft above ground level, the airplane flew through a flock of canary-size birds. He reported that, after the bird strikes, the airplane continued to climb, but the "prop then became unbalanced causing a violent vibration," followed by a steep left bank and then a right bank. He recalled that the airspeed decreased, and the stall warning horn sounded, and about 5 seconds later, the airplane impacted a body of water adjacent to the airport in a 60° left bank. Photographs provided by Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector showed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during takeoff initial climb, about 90ft AGL, the airplane flew through a flock of canary size birds. He reported that after the bird strikes, the airplane continued to climb, but the "prop then became unbalanced causing a violent vibration," followed by a steep left bank and then a right bank. He recalled that the airspeed decreased, and the stall warning horn sounded, and about five seconds later the airplane impacted a body of water adjacent to the airport in a 60° left bank. Photographs provided by Federal Aviation Administration, Aviation Safety Inspectors showed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N269DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N269DW-2019-03-16), registration cancelled 2019-03-16, S/N 1793, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1793 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1350 - Engines: Continental IO-550 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fly Up LLC. - Registered owner: Fly Up LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 29, 2018 - Departed: CDK, Cedar Key, FL - Destination: HWO, Hollywood, FL - Airport: CDK, George T Lewis, runway 05, 2,355 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review March 12, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 950 total, 760 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 17 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: CDK, 30 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 20180528006199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180528006199A), May 28, 2018: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Cedar Key, FL, Substantial damage. On may 28, 2018, at 1630 EST a 2006 Cirrus Design Corp, model SR22, aircraft N269DW crashed. The pilot stated on climb out he was at approximately 80? AGL when… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97347. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467887&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.