Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Caldwell, Texas, April 10, 2016
On April 10, 2016 at about 8:34 pm local time, a 2006 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N8PY, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Caldwell, Texas (Caldwell Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the No. 5 cylinder's exhaust pipe for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fast and long landing, which led to a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2016 · about 8:34 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, Texas · Caldwell Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20 NO SERIES, built 2006
- Registration
- N8PY · registry record · serial 1645
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the private pilot experienced a vibration and noise that seemed to be originating from the engine. He reported that the engine rpm became erratic, and the airplane became harder to control due to the unusual vibration. As the pilot proceeded to the closest airport for a precautionary landing, the engine "seemed to be starting and stopping" or sputtering. The pilot reported that, before touching down on the 3,252-foot-long runway, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He flared the airplane above the runway and touched down at a higher-than-normal speed. The airplane bounced and settled onto the runway near its midpoint. Despite full braking action, the pilot was unable to stop the airplane, and it overran the runway before colliding with a tree and fence. An examination of the engine found that the exhaust pipe had fractured from the No. 5 cylinder; however, the reason for the separation could not be determined. No additional preimpact anomalies were detected with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane's multifunction display recorded the airplane's flight and engine parameters. Data showed a large drop in exhaust gas temperature of the No. 5 cylinder consistent with a failure of the exhaust pipe. The data revealed that, during the landing, the engine was operating until just before the airplane came to rest when the manifold pressure increased to ambient pressure.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Landing area overshoot during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › Collector/nozzle › Failure
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 135 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 6, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,766.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 2016; 25.5 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360-ES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4R7 Eunice LA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: RYW Lago Vista TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 3,252 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 16 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KRWV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN16LA151.