Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Brunswick, Georgia, February 28, 2013
On February 28, 2013 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N135CD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brunswick, Georgia (Malcolm Mckinnon 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 failure to maintain directional control while landing in a strong, gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2013 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Brunswick, Georgia · Malcolm Mckinnon Airport · 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
- N135CD · registry record · serial 1022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the approach to the runway, he listened to the automatic terminal information service, which noted that the wind was from 270 degrees at 16 knots and gusting to 26 knots. The pilot chose to continue the approach and, during the landing flare, a gust of wind forced the airplane left and down. The left wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright in a grassy area off the left side of the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the left wing, right flap, undercarriage, propeller, and firewall. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He had accumulated a total flight experience of 84 hours of which 12 hours were in the same make and model as the accident 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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 84 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 25, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 852 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2012; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HXD Hilton Head Isl SC at 6:40 pm
- Destination: SSI Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,584 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from SSI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 15, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photograph # 1: Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photograph # 2: Firewall (Photo Courtesdy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N135CD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.