# NTSB GAA18CA578: Cirrus SR22, N56PE, Frederick, MD, September 19, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 19, 2018, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Frederick, MD
- Coordinates: 39.417499, -77.374443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4175&lon=-77.3744&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98330
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA578
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98330/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98330
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA578

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane porpoising.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 94 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, after completing an instructional flight, he dropped off the flight instructor and flew back to his home airport. During landing, the airplane porpoised, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after completing an instructional flight, he dropped off the flight instructor, and flew back to his home airport. During landing the airplane porpoised and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56PE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56PE), registered now, S/N 3634, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CIRRUS SR22
- 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: 3634
- Year built: 2010
- Airframe hours: 574.4
- Engines: Continental IO-550N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2018
- Departed: JYO, Leesburg, VA
- Destination: JYO, Leesburg, VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FDK, Frederick Muni, runway 05, 5,219 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 381 total, 53 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KFDK

## 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 20180919016369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180919016369A), Sep 19, 2018: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Frederick, MD, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that on landing, his approach was slightly above normal approach speed. Upon starting the flare, the aircraft began to porpoise multiple times…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98330. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.

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