Cirrus SR22 accident near Saginaw, Michigan, October 6, 2023
On October 6, 2023 at about 1:45 pm local time, a 2005 Cirrus SR22, registered N969JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Saginaw, Michigan (Mbs International 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 failure of the right brake assembly due to excessive brake lining wear, which resulted in a thermally damaged piston O-ring, hydraulic fluid leak, and subsequent fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2023 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Saginaw, Michigan · Mbs International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22, built 2005 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N969JB · registry record · serial 1280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taxiing from the fixed-base operator’s building to the runway. As he increased brake pressure to stop the airplane before the runway hold short line, it turned to the left and completed a full 360° turn before coming to rest. The passenger then offered to try his brake pedals but the airplane only turned to the left; the pilot and passenger concluded they had no control of the right brake. The passenger then observed a fire emanating from under the right wing. The airport’s aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel responded and extinguished a fire associated with the right brake assembly. The right wing’s lower surface sustained substantial thermal damage during the ground fire. A postaccident examination revealed that the right brake linings had exceeded the manufacturer’s serviceable wear limit. The left brake linings were also significantly worn but within the serviceable wear limit. Additionally, the left brake assembly revealed a darkened temperature indicator sticker that indicated the left brake assembly had previously exceeded the manufacturer’s temperature limitation. The right brake assembly sustained significant thermal damage during the ground fire and its associated temperature indicator stickers were not observed. The excessively worn brake linings would have resulted in increased brake temperatures being transferred to the brake pressure plate and pistons. The loss of right brake effectiveness and subsequent fire likely occurred when hydraulic fluid leaked past a thermally damaged O-ring installed on one of the right brake pistons, then caught fire when it contacted the hot brake assembly.
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 taxi (to runway) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 208 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,701.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2023; 128.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 2,126 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from MBS
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMBS 061353Z 25010KT 10SM CLR 14/09 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP119 T01390094=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on October 22, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Record of Conversation (Eric Engler) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cirrus SR22 Airplane Maintenance Manual (Excerpts) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airframe Logbook (Excerpts) | PDF, 25 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Logbook (Excerpt) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Work Order Invoice for Last Annual Inspection | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA014.