Cirrus SR22 accident near Midland, Texas, June 1, 2018
On June 1, 2018, a 2007 Cirrus SR22, registered N670SR, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Midland, Texas (Midland International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadvertent stall, resulting in an uncontrollable descent and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2018
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22, built 2007 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N670SR · no longer on the register · serial 2863
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot and passenger were departing on a personal flight in the student pilot's airplane. Witnesses saw the airplane climb to about 200 ft above the runway at a slow airspeed, stall, and descend in a right turn until impact with terrain. According to the pilot's wife, he regularly flew the airplane, often with passengers. No pilot logbooks or records were found and the student's flight experience could not be determined. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given the atmospheric conditions, the density altitude about the time of the accident was 6,660 ft mean sea level (msl).
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 control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Passenger
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 192 hours in all; 92 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 875 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,044 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 875 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KMAF Midland TX
- Destination: KSRR Ruidoso NM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 16R, 9,501 ft by 159 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KMAF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on August 19, 2019. 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 | Record of Conversation (Witnesses) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (Chassity Cooper) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation (Flight Instruxctor) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Fire Department Witness' Statements | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Report from the Avidyne Corp. | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Reports and Records Pertinent to the Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Density Altitude Calculator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Airport Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Accident Ground/flight Track | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Airframe Inspection Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Engine Service and Maintenance Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Report Photos | PDF, 10 pages | 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.