Cirrus SR20 accident near Sanford, Florida, October 21, 2010
On October 21, 2010 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cirrus SR20, registered N495DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sanford Intl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's loss of directional control during a go-around maneuver following a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2010 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sanford Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR20 G2 · all SR20s on the register
- Registration
- N495DA · no longer on the register · serial 20-1841
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that he was landing at the conclusion of a solo cross-country flight when the airplane bounced on the main landing gear. He added full engine power in an effort to execute a go-around and in response, the airplane rolled to the left. He applied right aileron and rudder inputs to correct the roll to no avail, the airplane continued into a grassy area off the left side of the runway. The left wing and propeller impacted the ground, and the engine separated from its mounts, resulting in substantial damage. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane and data retrieved from the airplane's primary flight display also revealed no anomalies. The reported wind at the airport about the time of the accident was a crosswind at 5 knots.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,699 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLB Melbourne FL at 2:50 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27C, 3,578 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:33 pm from SFB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.