Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, September 9, 2022
On September 9, 2022 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 2018 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N42VU, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Indianapolis, Indiana (Eagle Creek Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s incorrect application of rudder during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed response to the student pilot’s action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2022 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Eagle Creek Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20, built 2018
- Registration
- N42VU · registry record · serial 2440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that while landing the airplane was slightly right of the runway centerline and he instructed his student to add left rudder, bring the nose up and hold it off the runway. The student added right rudder and the instructor believed also right brake. The airplane touched down on the left main tire first and when the right tire contacted the runway, the airplane veered to the right. The instructor stated that he considered a go-around but decided that it would not be safe and applied full braking. He did not attempt to steer the airplane back into runway alignment as he felt that doing to at the speed the airplane was at would also be unsafe. The airplane went into the grass alongside the runway, crossed a taxiway, impacted a taxiway sign, and then came to a stop. The student pilot being instructed had logged 8.3 hours of dual instruction when the accident occurred. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor indicated on his report that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 832 hours in all; 695 in this make and model; 154 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 716 as pilot in command; 491 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 14, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 (piston); 2,783 hours total
- Operator: Vincennes University
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KEYE
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEYE 091553Z AUTO 09007KT 10SM FEW037 26/16 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP146 T02560161=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 24, 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 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 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.