Cirrus Design CORP SR22T accident near Raton, New Mexico, August 10, 2017
On August 10, 2017 at about 10:14 pm local time, a 2017 Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, registered N702N, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Raton, New Mexico (Raton Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to attain a proper airspeed during an attempted go-around in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2017 · about 10:14 pm local time
- Place
- Raton, New Mexico · Raton Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22T NO SERIES, built 2017
- Registration
- N702N · no longer on the register · serial 1494
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he was checking weather conditions every hour during the personal, cross-country flight. While approaching the destination airport, he had to maneuver around convective activity about 10 miles northwest of the airport. While the airplane was on approach and about 4 miles from the airport, the local fix-based operator announced on the UNICOM that the winds were from 170° at 7 knots. The airplane crossed the runway 20 threshold about 85 knots and with full flaps. About 15 ft from touchdown, the airplane began to sink rapidly. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent, but the airplane impacted the runway and bounced, and wind began to push the airplane hard to the left. The pilot then initiated a go-around with full throttle and pulled back on the stick. The airplane climbed to between about 15 and 20 ft above ground level, the stall warning sounded, and the right wing stalled and then dropped. The airplane then struck an embankment off the right side of the runway and rolled onto its right side. A review of weather information showed that a wind shift occurred about 2 minutes before landing, at which time, the reported winds were from 180° at 12 knots. The pilot reported that he believed that there was wind shear.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 153 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 8, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 165 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 2017
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-550-K (piston); 165 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELD Eldorado AR at 4:30 pm
- Destination: RTN Raton NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 7,620 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:12 pm from RTN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 3, 2020. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | 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.