Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Gaitherburg, Maryland, September 28, 2011
On September 28, 2011 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N912BG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Gaitherburg, Maryland (Montgomery County Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2011 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gaitherburg, Maryland · Montgomery County Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20
- Registration
- N912BG · registry record · serial 1220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he had conducted five normal practice takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. During the landing flare for the sixth landing, he observed a flock of birds at the end of the runway and attempted to touch down and stop the airplane in a shorter-than-normal distance. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down hard and porpoised several times. On the final touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,252 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,167 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Inn Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: GAI Gaitherburg MD at 6:35 pm
- Destination: GAI Gaitherburg MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 4,202 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 7:13 pm from FDK, 18 miles away
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.