Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Nora Springs, Iowa, August 28, 2025
On August 28, 2025 at about 1:55 am local time, a 2003 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N45JN, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Nora Springs, Iowa (Spotts Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision-making for the attempted landing, which resulted in a runway overrun due to inadequate runway landing distance with a quartering tailwind. Contributing to the accident was the wet condition of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2025 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Nora Springs, Iowa · Spotts Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2003
- Registration
- N45JN · registry record · serial 0489
- 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 grass runway, the airplane touched down “a little long.” The pilot was unable to stop the airplane, and it departed the end of the runway surface into an agricultural field. He then attempted to avoid the agricultural vegetation off the end of the runway by turning the airplane to the left; however, the airplane entered a skid and subsequently impacted the vegetation which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported the airplane’s braking was ineffective due to the runway being wet and recently rolled. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 09 with wind from 230° at 6 knots. The calculated total landing distance required from the landing distance performance chart was 3,943 ft, which was 1,493 ft more than the available runway distance.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Landing distance › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,760 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 2,660 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 31, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,358.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 3,358 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDC Prairie Du Chien WI at 1:13 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,450 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KMCW, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMCW 280153Z AUTO 23006KT 10SM BKN100 21/17 A3007 RMK AO2 RAB07E44 SLP176 P0000 T02060167=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Landing Distance Chart | 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.