Cirrus Design Corporation SR22 accident near Crystal, Minnesota, June 17, 2009
On June 17, 2009 at about 3:02 am local time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR22, registered N214BN, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Crystal, Minnesota (Crystal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during a go-around. Factors associated with the accident were the dark night lighting conditions, moderate to heavy rain, and fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2009 · about 3:02 am local time
- Place
- Crystal, Minnesota · Crystal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design Corporation SR22 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N214BN · no longer on the register · serial 1137
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported having the runway in sight during the night landing. The tower controller reported that it appeared the airplane touched down on the runway after which time they closed and departed the tower. A witness, who was exiting a building on the south side of the airport when the accident occurred,reported that he heard the airplane and that the engine was very loud. He then heard the engine power increase as if the pilot was performing a “go-around.” He stated that he heard the impact and looked toward runway 14L where he saw the airplane engulfed in flames. The witness stated there was “moderate to heavy” rain at the time of the accident. Another witness reported that the airplane turned onto its right side and stalled. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a post impact fire. Inspection of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any pre-impact failure/malfunction. The pilot began the cross country flight about 10 hours and 30 minutes prior to the accident, and had flown about 7 hours and 17 minutes during that time.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Rain › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 505 hours in all; 388 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 689 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 29, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City MO
- Destination: MIC Crystal MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14L, 3,263 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:09 am from MIC
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.