Cirrus Design Corp SR22-GTS accident near Mc Rae, Georgia, August 21, 2006
On August 21, 2006 at about 5:41 pm local time, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22-GTS, registered N518SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mc Rae, Georgia (Telfair-Wheeler Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to use supplemental oxygen where required, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2006 · about 5:41 pm local time
- Place
- Mc Rae, Georgia · Telfair-Wheeler Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design Corp SR22-GTS · all SR22-GTSs on the register
- Registration
- N518SR · no longer on the register · serial 2063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced an in-flight loss of aircraft control during cruise flight. The pilot initially reported a turbulence encounter at 9,500 feet, and that he saw damage on the upper surface of both wings. He did not recall a significant loss of altitude or loss of control. Data downloaded from the flight displays after the event indicated that the airplane actually climbed to 15,400 feet above mean sea level (msl), nearly 17,500 feet density altitude, which was the maximum operating altitude for the airplane. The airplane then slowed, stalled, and began a rapid descent, losing 13,000 feet of altitude in about 40 seconds before recovering. During recovery, the airplane had an average of more than 4 Gs vertical loading for more than 20 seconds. Such loading would likely have resulted in G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) or near-loss of consciousness. The pilot's apparent failure to accurately recall the events of the flight is likely a result of the confusion associated with hypoxia, and the subsequent confusion and amnesia associated with G-LOC or near G-LOC. It is unclear exactly why the pilot chose to increase his altitude beyond 12,500 feet msl, above which oxygen use would have been required after 30 minutes. Regardless, he continued to climb the airplane above 14,000 feet msl, an altitude above which oxygen use would have been required by the pilot regardless of the time spent at that altitude, and he subsequently climbed to above 15,000 feet, at which point oxygen use would have been required by all occupants. The pilot confirmed that neither he nor his passengers used supplemental oxygen during the flight. Examination of the airplane found no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunctions that would have prevented the airplane from operating normally.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 968 hours in all; 876 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2006; 26.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AHN Athens GA at 4:46 pm
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:40 pm from KVDI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.