Stall / Spin · NTSB CEN24FA045

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22T — Fairland, IN

2 fatal Low-time pilot
DateNovember 22, 2023
LocationFairland, IN
AircraftCIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22T
Purpose of flightInstructional
ConditionsDay · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrenceInitial climb Aerodynamic stall/spin
Pilot age42
Pilot total time81 hrs · Student / very low time
Time in typeUnknown
Fatalities2

Probable cause

Both pilots’ failure to maintain adequate airspeed during departure from the airport, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack, entering an aerodynamic stall, and impacting terrain.

NTSB findings

  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Capability exceeded
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Instructor/check pilot

What happened

The pilot had planned to fly with a flight instructor on the day of the accident for additional flight experience in the airplane he recently purchased. They flew to the airport where the accident occurred and conducted several takeoffs and landings. During a departure climb from the airport after one of these landings, the airplane slowed and stalled. The airplane descended and impacted a flat, fallow cornfield.

Postaccident examination of the airplane along with recorded data revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. The recorded data showed that the airplane was near stall speed, and the stall warning had eight activations over a 1-minute period before the airplane descended into terrain.

It is unknown whether the pilot, flight instructor, or both were manipulating the airplane’s flight controls leading up to the accident and the reason for the duration of stall warnings over the 1-minute period is unknown. There was no deployment of the airframe parachute.

Toxicology results indicate that the pilot had potentially used one or more cannabis products. However, the precise timing of his last cannabis use and whether it was causing significant impairing effects at the time of the accident could not be determined.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.

View the official NTSB docket →