Cirrus SR22 N224SB

Summary

On 29 January 2009 at about 19:50 local time, a Cirrus SR22 registered N224SB, operated by Centennial Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 January 2009 at 19:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Berkley County Airport (MKS)

Coordinates

33.1914, -80.0292

Aircraft

Cirrus SR22

Registration

N224SB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Centennial Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Charleston → Mooresville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09FA148

1 person died.

A loss of aircraft control during the landing approach for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

About 6 minutes after departing in visual meteorological conditions, the pilot reported fumes in the cockpit to air traffic control, and advised them that he planned to divert. The pilot subsequently began descending toward a nearby airport, and entered the traffic pattern. As the airplane neared the runway threshold, on what appeared to be a "normal" approach, it suddenly pitched nose down and impacted the ground about 900 feet short of the runway threshold. A witness who approached the airplane immediately following the accident reported no fire, smoke, or abnormal fumes. Post accident review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that about 3 weeks prior to the accident, the pilot had reported an odor of "burnt electronics" in the cabin, and subsequently had the airplane inspected by a maintenance facility. No anomalies were found during the inspection and all of the airplane's systems continued to function normally thereafter. A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, failures, or fire in the accident airplane. A detailed inspection of the airplane's electrical system and avionic components revealed a single damaged capacitor located in the primary flight display that displayed evidence of thermal distress. Functional testing of the circuit card containing the damaged capacitor suggested normal operation. The pilot’s cause of death was noted as "blunt trauma" and toxicological testing on specimens from the pilot showed no traces of carbon monoxide or cyanide.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.