Cirrus SR22 accident near Red Oak, Iowa, October 15, 2023
On October 15, 2023 at about 2:51 pm local time, a 2013 Cirrus SR22, registered N6JA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Red Oak, Iowa (Red Oak Municipal airport). 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue failure of the exhaust valve due to excessive combustion deposits, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to ensure that the required scheduled maintenance was completed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2023 · about 2:51 pm local time
- Place
- Red Oak, Iowa · Red Oak Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 T, built 2013 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N6JA · no longer on the register · serial 0845
- 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 the engine began to run rough during the cross-country flight, and the pilot diverted to a nearby non-tower-controlled airport, where he flew the RNAV (GPS) approach to runway 5, the airport’s longest runway. During the descent and approach, the air traffic controller informed the pilot that runway 5 was closed; however, the pilot proceeded to land, and the airplane impacted a barricade and ground equipment, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the engine found excessive combustion products on the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve. The deposits wore the valve guide, which resulted in the improper seat of the valve, abnormal valve operation, and fatigue failure of the valve face. The excessive combustion product deposits were most likely due to a rich fuel/air mixture, which prevented the cylinder from reaching the temperature required to ensure that lead combustion products were expelled from the cylinder with the exhaust gas. Review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the engine was 15 days overdue for an annual inspection. Had the required inspection had been performed on time, the exhaust valve issues likely would have been discovered before the accident occurred.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 403 hours in all; 398 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 403 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,441.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OMA Omaha NE at 2:20 pm
- Destination: CPS St Louis MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 5,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 am from KRDK
Weather report (METAR): KRDK 151415Z AUTO 34009KT 10SM OVC060 09/09 A3032
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on February 20, 2025. 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement - Aircraft Exam | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Follow-up Examination Summary | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Maintenance Logbook (Complete) | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Logs - Excerpt of Last Annual Inspection | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Garmin Data - Accident Flight | data file | Download |
| 8 | Air Traffic Control Communication Mor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Engine Data Plot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Meteorology Factual Report | PDF, 22 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Meteorology Attachment 1 - GOES-16 Abi Snow/ice Satellite Imagery | GIF file | Download |
| 12 | Meteorology Attachment 2 - GOES-16 Geocolor Satellite Imagery | GIF file | Download |
| 13 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 24-038 | PDF, 21 pages | View Download |
| 14 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.