Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Chesterfield, Missouri, November 11, 2025
On November 11, 2025 at about 11:50 pm local time, a 2002 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N866CD, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Chesterfield, Missouri (Spirit Of St. Louis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2025 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Chesterfield, Missouri · Spirit Of St. Louis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20, built 2002
- Registration
- N866CD · registry record · serial 1235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 11, 2025, about 1750 central standard time, a Cirrus SR20, N866CD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chesterfield, Missouri. The pilot and copilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the night flight, they were on approach to the destination airport and continued to descend with the flaps set to 50%. He slowed the airplane below 100 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) and extended the flaps to 100%. Shortly after, they heard a “bang” from the front of the airplane and the engine RPM increased. At the same time the airplane made an uncommanded right yaw and roll, and he was unable to maintain control of the airplane. As the airplane was in a steep right spiraling descent, he activated the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), then retarded the throttle and mixture levers. The airplane descended under the canopy and impacted trees and terrain in a nose low attitude. The pilots egressed the airplane without further incident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane descended into a wooded area and the empennage separated during the accident sequence. The airplane remained suspended vertically by the parachute and harness. The propeller was embedded in the ground and the left wing was resting on the ground (see figure 1). Figure 1. Accident airplane where it came to rest (Source: FAA). The flaps were found in a fully retracted position, and the flap switch was positioned to 100%. The flap control system and associated hardware remained intact from the flap actuator to the control surfaces. The bottom of the airplane was mostly covered with engine oil and there was a large pool of engine oil in the engine cowling, but the engine did not exhibit evidence of a catastrophic failure. The airplane’s avionics were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for data extraction. The airplane was retained to further examination.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during approach defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 989.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: KDCU Decatur AL at 8:49 pm
- Destination: KSUS Chesterfield MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from KSUS, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSUS 112354Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 07/M01 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP123 T00721011 10167 20072 53006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.