Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Cleveland, Tennessee, March 26, 2017
On March 26, 2017 at about 6:25 pm local time, a 2016 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N782JR, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Cleveland, Tennessee (Cleveland Rgnl Jetport airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a premature rotation for a no-flap takeoff and subsequent loss of airplane control during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2017 · about 6:25 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Cleveland, Tennessee · Cleveland Rgnl Jetport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20 NO SERIES, built 2016
- Registration
- N782JR · registry record · serial 2337
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was conducting an instructional flight in the airplane, which was owned by the student pilot. The flight instructor reported that he did not notice that the student pilot had not set the flaps to the appropriate position for takeoff, as required on the Before Takeoff checklist. Immediately after rotation, during the initial climb, the student pilot had difficulty maintaining directional control. The flight instructor took control of the airplane about 10 ft above the runway, the stall warning annunciator was audible, and the airplane began sinking. The flight instructor pushed the nose over but was unable to recover before the airplane landed hard and then departed the right side of the runway. The landing gear dug into the mud, the airplane then spun around, and the nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › TE flap control system › Not used/operated other cases naming the flight controls
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,930 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 1,820 as pilot in command; 1,435 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 62 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 201 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,002 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-ES (piston); 201 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RZR Cleveland TN at 6:35 pm
- Destination: EHO Shelbyville TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KRZR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Front left Quartering View of Airplane
Photo 2 – Left Rear View of Airplane with Vertical Stabilizer and Gear Damage
Photo 3 – Right Elevator and Vertical Stabilizer Damage
Photo 4 – Runway and Grass Skid Marks Leading up to AirplaneThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 29, 2017. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photographs of Damage and Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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 N782JR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N782JR on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Continental IO-360-ES 401 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cleveland Regional Jetport · nearest airport
- Shelby-Cleveland County Regional · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,522 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N782JR 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA17CA137.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.