Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Nacogdoches, Texas, December 16, 2010
On December 16, 2010 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N422MR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Nacogdoches, Texas. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 2010 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Nacogdoches, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22
- Registration
- N422MR · no longer on the register · serial 2789
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was in cruise flight when the airplane’s propeller began to surge and the engine power dropped to near idle. The pilot adjusted the throttle, selected another fuel tank, and activated the electric fuel boost pump, to no avail. The pilot saw an airport nearby, so he cancelled his instrument flight rules flight plan and set up the airplane’s best glide to that airport. During the glide, the pilot tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine. About 1,000 feet above ground level, the pilot realized that he was not going to reach the airport and activated the airplane’s ballistic parachute. Seconds later, the airplane impacted trees before coming to rest inverted on the ground. The pilot reported that he smelled fuel when he exited the airplane. Postaccident testing of the airplane‘s engine did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 430 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 6, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,126 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T41 La Porte TX at 1:15 am
- Destination: GGG Longview TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
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.