Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Andros Island, Bs, January 7, 2012
On January 7, 2012 at about 6:24 pm local time, a Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N723EA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Andros Island. It was a personal 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 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
- January 7, 2012 · about 6:24 pm local time
- Place
- Andros Island, Bahamas · 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
- N723EA · no longer on the register · serial 1512
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 7, 2012, about 1324 eastern standard time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR22, N723EA, registered to and operated by M&W Aviation LLC, descended into water near Andros Island, Bahamas, following deployment of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida, to Toussaint Louverture International Airport (MTPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the certificated commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from TMB about 1217. The pilot stated that the day before the accident date, the airplane was test flown by another pilot following an annual inspection involving extensive maintenance. Additionally, the pilot reported that on the accident date prior to the accident flight, he test flew the airplane in the traffic pattern at TMB; no discrepancies were reported. The flight departed TMB climbing uneventfully to 9,500 feet, and about 45 minutes into the flight, the oil pressure began to drop from mid 40 psi into the 30 psi range. He decided to divert to Andros Island, advised air traffic control of the situation, and later declared an emergency. He reported the oil pressure decreased to zero, and the engine, which had been running very smoothly, began to shake and then seized. The pilot trimmed for best glide speed, but after recognizing that he was unable to reach Andros Island, deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) when the flight was at about 2,200 feet. The parachute deployed, and the airplane descended to the water hitting flat and firmly. Both occupants who were wearing inflatable life jackets evacuated the airplane, boarded a life raft, and were rescued. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Manager of Flight Standards, Bahamas P.O. Box AP 59244 Nassau, N.P. Bahamas Phone: (242) 377-3445/3448 Facsimile: (242) 377-6060 This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained for the Bahamian Government.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Ditching during emergency descent
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N(27) (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: M & W Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TMB Miami FL at 5:17 pm
- Destination: MTPP Port-Au-Prince
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from MYNN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.