# NTSB WPR26LA159: Cirrus Design SR22T, N285AH, Fullerton, CA, April 13, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 13, 2026, 14:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Fullerton, CA - Coordinates: 33.872014, -117.97978 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8720&lon=-117.9798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Cirrus Aircraft, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202836 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202836/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202836 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff, due to the seat sliding aft. ## 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 SR22T, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Equipment/furnishings](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after conducting a preflight inspection he entered the airplane and adjusted the seat in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The pilot taxied for departure and performed an engine run-up. After receiving the takeoff clearance from the tower controller, he began the takeoff roll. However, as the pilot applied nose up control input, the seat slid back to the full aft position. The airplane pitched up, yawed to the left, and subsequently impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The preflight inspection and airplane run-up revealed no anomalies. Post accident examination of the left seat, seat rails, and seat locking pins revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The seat was able to slide from stop to stop without the locking pins engaged. When the seat locking pins were engaged in the seat rails, the seat locked in place. The seat movement described by the pilot during the accident sequence was unable to be duplicated. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook states in part, “Crew seats must be locked in position, and control handles fully down before flight.” A non-mandatory service bulletin was issued in August, 2024 by the airframe manufacturer which recommended the installation of a secondary seat latch and stop, which limits how far aft the crew seat can move if the seat pins are not fully engaged. A review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that this service bulletin had not been complied with on the accident airplane. Based on the available evidence, it is unknown if the pilot properly secured the seat or if the seat latching mechanism malfunctioned. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N285AH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N285AH), registered now, S/N 1863, built 2019 (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: 1863 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 891.1 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-K 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2025, 65.1 hours before - Destination: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Airport: FUL, Fullerton Municipal Airport, runway 24, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,315 total, 400 in this make and model, 7,015 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KFUL - METAR: METAR KFUL 132053Z 19009G22KT 10SM SCT047 BKN055 18/07 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW SLP166 60000 T01780067 58012= ## 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 20260413004099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260413004099A), Apr 13, 2026: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot states shimmy check was positive and seat was locked before takeoff roll. Seat then became disenged and slid back during rotation causing a loss of… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202836. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20403995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Summary of seat track examination (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 6 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20425623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Seat%20track%20examination_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cirrus SR22 POH excerpts (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20430006&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cirrus%20SR22%20POH%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance log excerpts (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20425017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Service bulletin (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20425135&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SB2X-25-31R1%20Cirrus%20seat%20track%20SB-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 438 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20425330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-Rel.pdf - Investigation party form (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20476410&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Party%20Form_Redacted-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.