Pilot Debrief

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 near Fort Myers, FL — 2015-04-19

Final reportERA15LA192
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Date
2015-04-19
Location
Fort Myers, FL, USA
Airport
94FL
Aircraft
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22
Registration
N88AX
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to land the airplane with a quartering, gusting tailwind and his subsequent failure to flare the airplane and maintain directional control after it bounced, which resulted in a runway excursion.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he checked the weather at a local airport and subsequently chose to land on a runway at his destination airport with a quartering tailwind and gusts to 20 knots. While the pilot was performing a steep approach to the runway, a crosswind "push[ed]" the airplane to the left. Further, the pilot did not flare the airplane, and, during the landing, the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced. The pilot added full throttle in an attempt to perform a go-around, but the airplane slid off the runway. He then retarded the engine throttle and attempted to "straighten" out the landing roll; however, the airplane struck a tree, became airborne again, struck more trees, and finally came to rest upright near a house. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, he stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had flown over the field, evaluated the wind sock, and conducted a longer approach flight pattern.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not flare the airplane during landing, leading to loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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