Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Alexandria, Louisiana, March 23, 2016
On March 23, 2016 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2003 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N927DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Alexandria, Louisiana. 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
The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2016 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alexandria, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22 NO SERIES, built 2003
- Registration
- N927DS · no longer on the register · serial 0497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and flight instructor departed on a cross-country flight. The flight was uneventful until the descent to the destination airport. The pilot indicated that, during the descent, he reduced the engine throttle and noticed some "shaking from the engine." After troubleshooting, he realized the engine would not have sufficient power for the airplane to land at the airport. Due to the unsuitable terrain for an off-airport landing, the pilot chose to activate the ballistic parachute system. The airplane descended to the ground under the parachute canopy and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the impact with terrain. Postaccident examination revealed no airframe or engine malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A functional test of the engine revealed the engine accelerated normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power and demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower. Thus, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.
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 (partial) during approach defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,246.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 23, 2016; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N (piston); 1,246 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBD Dallas TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: Alexandria LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.