Cirrus SR22 accident near Woody Creek, Colorado, January 27, 2020
On January 27, 2020 at about 10:24 pm local time, a 2017 Cirrus SR22, registered N288WT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Woody Creek, Colorado. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Water trapped in the static system, which resulted in incorrect airspeed display information and the pilot’s forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2020 · about 10:24 pm local time
- Place
- Woody Creek, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 T, built 2017 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N288WT · registry record · serial 1594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departing on the instrument flight rules cross-country flight, the pilot cleaned melting snow off the airplane and visually inspected the airframe flight control surfaces for snow and ice contamination, which included checking the pitot tube for contamination and proper function of the pitot heat. The pilot reported that, just after takeoff, the indicated airspeed decreased from normal climb speed to less than 20 knots. Immediately thereafter, the primary flight display showed red X’s in place of the airspeed indication, and the backup airspeed indicator became unreliable. The airspeed indicator became functional again for a short time before airspeed indications were lost after the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions. As the airplane was approaching rising terrain, the pilot chose to activate the airframe parachute system (CAPS), and the airplane descended under the CAPS canopy to the mountainous terrain. Recorded data indicated that the pitot heat remained on throughout the flight. The data corroborated the pilot’s reported loss of airspeed indications after takeoff but showed that airspeed indications returned about 1 minute later for the remainder of the flight, until the CAPS activation. The flight director was activated during the takeoff and climb before the autopilot was activated. The data indicated that the autopilot was turned off then turned back on until the CAPS was deployed. An internally mounted alternate static pressure source provided backup static pressure if the primary static source should become blocked. Whether the alternate static source was opened during the accident flight could not be determined. Given the available information, the static system most likely had trapped water that caused the unreliable display 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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Central display › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 798.9 hours in all; 612 in this make and model; 51.7 in the last 90 days; 26.8 in the last 30 days; 640.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 18, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASE Aspen CO at 10:20 pm
- Destination: EGE Eagle CO
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KASE, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on December 16, 2021. 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.
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.