Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Gordonville, Florida, June 11, 2017
On June 11, 2017 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2005 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N592BC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Gordonville, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to properly configure the mixture control for landing due to disorientation because he had the airport diagram upside down, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2017 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gordonville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22 NO SERIES, built 2005
- Registration
- N592BC · registry record · serial 1519
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that he had "disoriented" himself by holding the airport diagram "upside down" as the airplane approached the destination airport. Once oriented, he turned the airplane onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, noticed the airplane was "high," and disconnected the autopilot. During the final approach, the airplane was descending rapidly, and the pilot added power to complete the landing. However, nothing happened because he had not properly set the mixture control, which resulted in a loss of engine power once he advanced the throttle. With little time and altitude remaining, the pilot was unable to regain engine power before the airplane struck the ground about 1/2 mile from the runway threshold. A postaccident test-run and examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Mixture control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Visual illusion/disorientation › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 2016; 36 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNV Ganesville FL at 3:20 pm
- Destination: BOW Bartow FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 3:45 pm from BOW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on January 28, 2019. 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 | Cockpit Displays – Recorded Flight Data - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Cockpit Displays – Recorded Flight Data - Attachment 1 (PFD) - Tabular Data (Csv) | data file | Download |
| 3 | Cockpit Displays – Recorded Flight Data - Attachment 2 (MFD) - Tabular Data (Csv) | data file | Download |
| 4 | Memo for Record - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records Annual Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Memo for Record - Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Employee Statements Florida Air Recovery | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Air Traffic Control Interview Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (Cirrus) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (Cmg) | 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.
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.