Cessna Aircraft CO E162 accident near El Dorado, Kansas, March 19, 2009
On March 19, 2009 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna Aircraft CO E162, registered N162CE, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near El Dorado, Kansas (Cessna Aircraft Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the Ballistic Recovery System to disconnect due to twisted attachment straps.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2009 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- El Dorado, Kansas · Cessna Aircraft Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna Aircraft CO E162
- Registration
- N162CE · no longer on the register · serial E16200001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting spin testing in an experimental, pre-production, light sport airplane. The airplane was equipped with a non-production Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) chute which was modified to allow for chute jettison after chute deployment. During a full aft center of gravity (CG) test flight, the airplane was placed in a left spin. The pilot attempted to recover from the spin but was unsuccessful. The pilot described the spin as "uncontrollable." After three turns the pilot elected to deploy the BRS, as per the briefed procedures. After BRS deployment, the airplane continued to spin, twisting the BRS chute attachment straps. The pilot attempted to jettison the chute, but could not due to the twisting of the straps. The parachute-equipped pilot remained with the airplane until it reached the ground in the BRS chute. The airplane was substantially damaged when it was drug by the chute in surface winds. The winds four minutes after the accident, 30 miles to the southwest, were reported as being at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. After the accident the manufacturer made design changes to the airplane's elevator, aileron, and rudder systems to improve the airplane's spin recovery capabilities.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Aerodynamic stall/spin defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery
- Off-field or emergency landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › Parachute › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 5,300 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 13, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 167 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 2008; 70 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental 0200DX1CS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cessna Aircraft Company
The flight
- Departed from: CEA Cessna Airport KS at 3:00 pm
- Destination: CEA Cessna Airport KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from AAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.