- Date
- November 26, 2024, 18:30 local (Nov 27, 2024, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mesa, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N701MKCirrus Design SF50
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Cirrus Aircraft, FAA
- FAA report
- 20241126022269A
- Case key
- 195564
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper landing gear selection during the takeoff roll and failure to maintain airplane control during a rejected takeoff, which resulted in abnormal contact with the runway and a collapse of the nose landing gear.
Findings · 4
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.
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
According to the pilot, while conducting a takeoff, he heard an unrecognizable sound and aborted the takeoff roll. The pilot applied brakes and pulled the throttle simultaneously. The airplane subsequently lifted off the ground and returned to the runway surface on the nose, which resulted in a collapse of the nose landing gear. The airplane’s emergency procedures has a caution that states “the airplane might rotate and lift off the ground if thrust lever is abruptly brought to IDLE prior to brake application.” A postaccident review of the airplane’s flight data from the Recoverable Data Module (RDM) revealed that the landing gear lever was in the UP position during the takeoff roll when one of the weight on wheel (WOW) sensors showed it airborne. A few seconds later, the WOW sensor reactivated and the airplane settled on the nose gear. The nose gear was in the transitory and unlocked position at that time and collapsed. Subsequently, when the airplane came to rest, the landing gear lever was placed in the DOWN position. Pitch angle and radar altimeter data from the RDM also showed that the airplane remained on the runway surface during the takeoff and abort. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N701MK
- Reported as
- Cirrus Design SF50
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0170
- Built
- 2019
- Airframe hours
- 745
- Engine
- Williams FJ33-5A, 1,846 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flying K Properties LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2024
- Destination
- KFAR · Fargo, ND
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- FFZ · Falcon Fld, runway 04R/22L, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 20, 2024
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,531.2 total · 484.1 in this make and model · 2,456.6 as pilot in command · 49.3 in the last 90 days · 13.2 in the last 30 days · 5.4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KFFZ, 1 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KFFZ 270054Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/05 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP142 T02280050
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 14.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.