Pilot Debrief

CIRRUS SR22 near Mathias, WV — 2010-09-30

Final reportERA10LA506
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Date
2010-09-30
Location
Mathias, WV, USA
Airport
W99
Aircraft
CIRRUS SR22
Registration
N567WT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during an instrument approach in turbulent weather conditions.

NTSB narrative

Nearing the conclusion of a two-hour cross-country instrument flight rules flight, the pilot was flying a holding pattern around the initial approach fix, waiting for the weather conditions at the destination airport to improve. While holding, the pilot noted calm wind on the surface and wind gusts of up to 40 knots in turbulence aloft. After holding for about 15 minutes, the pilot decided to execute the instrument approach. While descending to the final approach fix, the airplane slowed, the turbulence worsened, and the autopilot disengaged. The specific reason for the autopilot disengagement was not precisely determined, although it was likely due to a very brief (unrecorded) activation of the stall warning or an inadvertent manual disengagement. After the autopilot disengaged, and following several pitch and roll oscillations, the pilot lost control of the airplane. During the resulting dive, the airplane pitched to an attitude of 86 degrees nose down, reaching a maximum airspeed of 171 knots and 3.29 g's. The pilot successfully activated the whole-airframe ballistic recovery parachute system, and the airplane subsequently descended under the parachute canopy, coming to rest about 10 nautical miles from the destination airport in a densely wooded area, suspended about 25 feet above the ground. The forecasted weather for the flight included widespread instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence above the destination airport, and an adjacent area of forecasted convective weather, temperature inversion, and associated wind shear. Weather radar imagery of the immediate area of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included areas of light to moderate intensity precipitation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to divert or delay approach due to worsening weather conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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