GAA19CA306

NTSB accident investigation · Cirrus SR22 · Denver, CO · June 2, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 2, 2019, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
Place
Denver, CO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N581SDCirrus SR22
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 13, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20190602005599A
Case key
99534

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper control inputs on approach, which resulted in a hard landing near the runway edge, a runway excursion, and impact with runway lighting. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Findings · 5

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCirrus Design SR22: 94 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCirrus Design SR22: 35 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotCirrus Design SR22: 6 casesAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach lightEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationCirrus Design SR22: 2 casesAll aircraft: 106 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot under instruction reported that he had recently purchased the airplane and that the accident occurred during his third dual-instruction flight in the airplane. The flight instructor requested a short approach to accomplish a simulated engine failure approach and landing. The pilot reported that ground instruction for the simulated engine failure was never accomplished. The instructor requested a simulated emergency landing on runway 17, which was denied by the tower controller due to traffic. The instructor then requested a simulated emergency landing on runway 28, which the tower controller approved. The airplane intersected the extended centerline of runway 28 at a 45° angle. The instructor told the pilot to reduce the power to idle and initiate the approach at 100 knots. The pilot recalled that, by the time glide speed was established, "we were on top of the numbers." The instructor told the pilot to turn right, but he believed that it was too late to turn and align the airplane with the runway heading. The airplane touched down hard on the left edge of the runway, exited the left side of the runway, and impacted runway lights. The flight instructor reported that he had provided the pilot ground instruction on how to execute a power-off landing at least twice. The instructor added that, when he told the pilot to start turning, he did not respond and that, after the airplane overshot the right turn point toward the runway, he took the controls, leveled the airplane, and then applied full power. After the airplane exited the left side of the runway, he pulled the power off. His hand was on top of the pilot's, who subsequently added full power. The instructor reduced the power, but the pilot added full power again. The instructor was able to steer the airplane and stop it on the runway. A review of surveillance footage of the accident provided by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that, during the approach, the airplane converged on about a 45° angle toward runway 28. When the airplane approached the runway numbers, the right wing dropped rapidly, and the nose pitched up. Seconds later, the left wing dropped rapidly, and the airplane impacted the left side of the runway just before reaching the runway aim point markings. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lighting. The airplane remained upright and returned to the runway surface before coming to a stop about mid-field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot under instruction, reported that he had recently purchased the airplane, and it was his third dual-instruction flight in the airplane. The flight instructor requested a short approach to accomplish a simulated engine failure approach and landing. The pilot asserted that ground instruction for the simulated engine failure was never accomplished The instructor requested a simulated emergency landing on runway 17, which was denied by the tower controller due to traffic. The request was made for runway 28 and approved by the tower controller. The airplane intersected runway 28 at a 45° angle. The instructor told the pilot to reduce the power to idle and initiate the approach at 100 knots airspeed. The pilot recalled that by the time glide speed was established "we were on top of the numbers." The pilot under instruction was told to, "turn right" but he felt that it was too late to turn and align the airplane with the runway heading. The airplane touched down hard on the left edge of runway 28, exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lights, before the instructor steered the airplane back onto the runway and stopped. The flight instructor reported that he "had given the student ground on how to execute a power-off landing at least twice." During the approach, the airplane turned to the right and intersected a 45° angle toward the runway, the engine power was reduced, the airspeed remained within glide speed parameters, and the instructor told the pilot to, "start your turn," but he did not respond., The airplane overshot the right turn point toward the runway. The pilot applied hard right rudder, and then immediately applied hard left rudder. The instructor took the controls and leveled the airplane, and then applied full power. The airplane landed hard on the left edge of runway 28, it exited the left side of the runway and the instructor pulled the power off. His hand was on top of the pilot's, who subsequently added full power. The instructor reduced the power, but again the pilot added full power. The instructor was able to steer that airplane and bring it to a stop on the runway. Surveillance footage of the accident provided by the FAA, revealed that during approach, the airplane converged on about a 45° angle toward runway 28. When the airplane approached the runway numbers, the airplane's right wing dropped rapidly, and the nose pitched up. Seconds later, the left wing dropped rapidly, and the airplane impacted the left side of the runway, just prior to the runway aim point markings. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lighting. The airplane remained upright and returned to the runway surface before coming to a stop about mid-field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator, and the vertical stabilizer. Both pilot's reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N581SD
Reported as
Cirrus SR22 (Undesignat)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
3171
Built
2008
Airframe hours
753
Engine
Continental IO-550-N, 315 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
APA · Denver, CO
Destination
APA · Denver, CO
Airport
APA · Centennial, runway 28, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
70
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 15, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
1,444 total · 7 in this make and model · 1,444 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Flight instructor
Age
65
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial, Flight engineer
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 31, 2018
Seat
Right
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
18,000 total · 67 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
KAPA

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.