# NTSB WPR26LA071: Cirrus Design SR22T, N272HM, Lake Elsinore, CA, December 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 23, 2025, 14:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Lake Elsinore, CA · Ortaga Highway 74 Riverside County, CA - Coordinates: 33.6092, -117.43 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6092&lon=-117.4300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202220 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202220/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202220 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot’s intentional deployment of the airframe parachute system due to task-saturation in instrument meteorological conditions. ## 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 SR22T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md) - [Cognitive limitation: cognitive overload](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02023015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02023015/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Emergency descent initiated](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the airplane reported that during a cross-country flight, on an instrument flight rules flight plan, the controller issued several heading changes and a clearance to climb to 7,000 ft mean sea level, which placed the airplane in instrument meteorological conditions. While en route, the controller issued additional instructions to join an airway; however, the pilot anticipated joining a different airway and queried the controller. The controller responded that the airway the pilot should have joined was now behind their position. The pilot became confused and realized he had misunderstood instructions earlier in the flight but continued to fly his anticipated route instead of the corrected clearance. The controller advised the pilot to turn immediately due to terrain. The pilot disconnected the autopilot and manually turned the airplane in accordance with the controller’s instructions. During the turn, the airplane pitched nose-down and the pilot had difficulty controlling the pitch. The pilot elected to deploy the airframe parachute system due to his concerns about the terrain, difficulty controlling the airplane, and the perceived urgency in the voice of the controller. The parachute successfully deployed and the airplane descended under the parachute, until it came to rest upright on rocky, sloped terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N272HM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N272HM), registered now, S/N 1079, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22T - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22t) (registry code 2130004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-k) (registry code 17410, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1079 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 848.5 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-K 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2025 - Departed: SNA, Santa Ana, CA - Destination: PSP, Palm Springs, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SNA, John Wayne/Orange County, runway 20L, 2,886 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Airframe parachute, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 714 total, 547 in this make and model, 524 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSNA, 22 nm away - METAR: SPECI KSNA 232201Z 14005KT 10SM FEW002 FEW019 OVC065 16/12 A2995 RMK AO2 VIRGA OHD T01610122= ## 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 20251223020589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251223020589A), Dec 23, 2025: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T, Lake Elsinore, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot made two errors according to statement, 1. Missed headings via instructions from tower. 2. Disconnected autopilot in IMC conditions Pilot elected to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202220. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19832651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19832257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19832939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-Rel.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.