Pilot Debrief

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 near Silver Peak, NV — 2013-04-10

Final reportWPR13LA186
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Date
2013-04-10
Location
Silver Peak, NV, USA
Aircraft
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22
Registration
N205KT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot’s incapacitation due to sleeping pills, which led to the airplane impacting terrain in an autopilot-controlled descent following a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB narrative

The airplane departed and climbed to a cruise altitude of 16,500 feet. The pilot set the autopilot to continue the flight over an area of sparsely populated desert terrain. He stated that he then took sleeping pills in an attempt to take his life. When the fuel was exhausted in the selected tank, the engine lost power. The airplane's autopilot was equipped with an envelope protection feature, which placed the airplane into a controlled descent that was maintained to ground impact. Local law enforcement personnel who responded to the scene of the accident found the airplane relatively intact with the wings, empennage, and engine still attached to the fuselage and the injured pilot seated in the left front seat.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen not to take sleeping pills before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents18

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