Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Acworth, Georgia, August 29, 2010
On August 29, 2010 at about 8:57 pm local time, a Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N451TS, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Acworth, Georgia. It was an instructional 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 pilots improper in-flight fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power during a descent due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2010 · about 8:57 pm local time
- Place
- Acworth, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22
- Registration
- N451TS · no longer on the register · serial 0542
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot departed on an instructional flight with 24 gallons of fuel in both the left and right main fuel tank. The CFI could not recall which fuel tank was selected at takeoff; however, he stated that the private pilot was switching fuel tanks every 30 minutes during the flight. The airplane climbed up to 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and cruised at 75 percent power to their first destination airport, where they conducted eight touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. They continued to the next destination airport at 3,500 feet msl and made one full stop landing, taxied back, conducted an engine run up and departed. They then climbed up to 3,500 feet msl en route to their home base and as they approached their destination (about 8 to 9 miles away), the engine lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane, instructed the student to turn on the alternate air, and he initiated the engine out procedures. The CFI turned and elected to perform a forced landing to a golf course fairway. The airplane collided with two trees on the landing roll and came to a stop. The CFI indicated that the total duration of the flight was 2 hours 28 minutes. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left wing and fuselage received structural damage. The left main fuel tank was ruptured and no browning of vegetation was present under the left wing in indication there was likely no fuel in the tank prior to impact. The right fuel tank was not ruptured and 16 gallons of fuel was recovered from the fuel tank by recovery personnel. The data extracted from a multi function display flash card revealed the fuel used for the flight was 29.9 gallons. The flash card indicated the flight was 2 hours 7 minutes. Subsequently, a test run of the engine was performed with no anomalies noted.
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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (descent) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (descent)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,012 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 1,920 as pilot in command; 1,502 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,580 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,111 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 6, 2010; 153 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550N (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Atlanta Flight Center
The flight
- Departed from: 9A5 Lafayette GA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: RYY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from RYY, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.