Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Chesaning, Michigan, May 11, 2024
On May 11, 2024 at about 6:12 pm local time, a 2002 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N815CD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Chesaning, Michigan (Howard Nixon Memorial Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing on a wet turf runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to ensure the passenger’s proper use of seatbelts before the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2024 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Chesaning, Michigan · Howard Nixon Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2002
- Registration
- N815CD · registry record · serial 0149
- 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 while landing on a wet turf runway, the airplane began to skid. He initiated a go-around and then determined that he would not be able to clear the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot aborted the go-around and the airplane landed on the remaining runway, continued off the end of the runway, and impacted trees. The airplane came to rest upright on the ground in a grove of trees. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. During the accident sequence an un-restrained passenger sustained a serious injury, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that he provided the passenger a briefing on the use of the seatbelts before the accident; however, he did not confirm the passenger was wearing the seatbelts before landing. The passenger had unfastened the seatbelt during the flight.
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 (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Passenger
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Issuing instructions › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,317.6 hours in all; 69.6 in this make and model; 27.2 in the last 90 days; 10.2 in the last 30 days; 1,265 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,754.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 26, 2023; 130 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 1,797 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YIP Detroit MI at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 50G Chesaning MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 2,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KRNP, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRNP 111815Z AUTO 31011G20KT 10SM SCT027 BKN032 OVC049 13/06 A2967 RMK AO2 T01260063
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 19, 2024. 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 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Passenger Statements | 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.