Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Katy, Texas, May 27, 2018
On May 27, 2018 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 2003 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N67Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Katy, Texas (Houston Executive Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of airplane control on takeoff due to the absence of the attachment bolt for the left aileron actuation arm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2018 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Katy, Texas · Houston Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20 NO SERIES, built 2003
- Registration
- N67Y · no longer on the register · serial 1286
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff, the airplane began to roll to the left. He attempted to counteract the roll with right aileron input but could not control the rolling motion; the airplane continued to roll to the left. The pilot continued to use right aileron and trim, lowered the nose, and executed a forced landing in a field adjacent to the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage showed that the left aileron actuation arm and attachment bolt were missing; there was no associated impact damage. Impact marks were present on the inboard hinge consistent with the aileron striking it. No distress or markings were found in the hole for the attachment bolt. The bolt or remnants of safety wire were not found. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane the day before the accident and noted no problems with the flight controls. The most recent annual inspection and maintenance documents did not show any work performed on the ailerons. It could not be determined when the bolt came loose from the attachment. The absence of the bolt would severely affect aileron flight control as reported by the pilot, allowing the aileron to rotate freely around the hinge point with no connection to the flight controls. After the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an aviation maintenance alert advising owners and operators of SR20 and SR22 airplanes to visually inspect the bolt for the aileron actuation arm for the presence of a safety wire.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Aileron control system › Not installed/available
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Not installed/available
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,673 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days; 39.9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 24, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 992.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360 SER (piston); 992 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TME Katy TX
- Destination: TKJ Mckinney TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 6,610 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from TME
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N67Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.
