Cirrus Design Corporation SR22T accident near Addison, Texas, March 23, 2012
On March 23, 2012 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2011 Cirrus Design Corporation SR22T, registered N229TX, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Addison, Texas (Addison Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s improper maintenance, which resulted in the incorrect wiring of the No. 1 alternator and a subsequent electrical system fire during taxi. Contributing to the accident was the airplane manufacturer's inadequate maintenance documentation that did not depict updated electrical system wiring options.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2012 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design Corporation SR22T, built 2011 · all SR22Ts on the register
- Registration
- N229TX · registry record · serial 0076
- 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 electrical fire while taxiing to the departure runway. A postaccident examination revealed that a grounded shield wire was improperly attached to the alternator's auxiliary power terminal instead of the alternator's case-ground connection during recent maintenance. The mechanic who had recently removed the alternator stated that he did not identify the location of the wire harness leads during removal and that the manufacturer's documentation did not depict where the power shield wire should be attached on the alternator, so he decided to attach the shield wire to the auxiliary power terminal, which was not correct. The manufacturer's wiring manual did not depict the optional electrical system wiring configuration, which included the incorporation of the No. 1 alternator power shield wire. As a result of the accident, the airplane manufacturer updated the wiring manual to explicitly account for the shield wires and the unused auxiliary power terminal. Caution messages were added to the maintenance manuals warning mechanics that the airplane might be equipped with cable shielding and, if so, where to connect the shielding on the alternator.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Electrical system malf/failure during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › AC generator › alternator › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › AC generator › alternator › Related maintenance info
- factor Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Documentation/record keeping › Maintenance records › Manufacturer
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 753 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 715 as pilot in command; 490 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 482 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-550-K (piston); 482 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Planesmart! Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 7,202 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from ADS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.