Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Durango, Colorado, June 1, 2014
On June 1, 2014 at about 8:26 pm local time, a 2002 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N583KM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Durango, Colorado (Animas Air Park airport). It was a personal flight 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 student pilot’s decision to fly solo into an unfamiliar, mountain airport during high-wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power during the attempted go-around, which was caused by an over-rich mixture setting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2014 · about 8:26 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Animas Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2002
- Registration
- N583KM · no longer on the register · serial 0332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting a solo flight from his home airport on the coast to an airport located in the mountains. Just before landing, the airplane encountered a "strong downward gust," likely due to a combination of high-wind conditions (the local weather was wind at 16 knots gusting to 24 knots about the time of the accident) and a steep terrain dropoff near the approach end of the runway. The pilot attempted a go-around, but the engine did not respond with full power. He subsequently lost control of the airplane, which then impacted left of the runway. The pilot reported that the mixture might have been "too rich" during the go-around attempt. Examination of the engine revealed excessive sooting on the spark plugs, which is indicative of an over-rich mixture condition; this condition likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power during the go-around attempt. The student pilot had not flown into the mountain airport before and had not been cleared to fly the route by a flight instructor.
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
- Turbulence encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Decision related to condition
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Mixture control › Incorrect use/operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 24 in the last 30 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 27, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,296 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2013; 169 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 1,296 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSMO Santa Monica CA at 5:16 pm
- Destination: 00C Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 5,010 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KDRO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 29, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Cockpit Display - NTSB Specialist's Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cockpit Display – Raw Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 4 | Engine Leaning Article | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Revised Factual Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.