Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Whitewater, Wisconsin, May 16, 2021
On May 16, 2021 at about 2:15 am local time, a 2001 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N4144B, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Whitewater, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight instrument malfunction for reasons that could not be determined based on available information, which led to the pilot’s decision to activate the airframe parachute system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2021 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Whitewater, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2001
- Registration
- N4144B · no longer on the register · serial 0131
- 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, during an instrument flight rules flight, he began receiving conflicting information from the flight instruments and digital flight information display. He stated that the turn coordinator and GPS were displaying opposite information, the heading bug was moving erratically, and he felt as if he was flying in circles. After determining that he could not rely on the information from the flight instruments, he elected to activate the Cirrus airframe parachute system. The airplane came to rest in a stand of trees, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident testing of the electronic horizonal situation indicator, directional gyro, and horizon reference indicator revealed no anomalies except for the directional gyro counterclockwise heading stability, which exceed the testing limits by about 3°. The heading stability finding, although outside the testing limits, would not result in the instrument anomalies reported by the pilot. The reason for the flight instrument disagreement/malfunction could not be determined based on the available 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
- Flight instrument malf/fail during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Navigation system › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 588.7 hours in all; 280.1 in this make and model; 15.8 in the last 90 days; 9.5 in the last 30 days; 491.1 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,637.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO550 (piston); 1,635 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSBM Sheboygan WI at 1:10 am
- Destination: KBUU Burlington WI
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from KJVL, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KJVL 160145Z 21005KT 4SM BR OVC004 13/13 A3013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on July 28, 2022. 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 | Attitude Indicator Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Midcontinent Test Report Factual | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Sandel Test Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.