Cirrus SR22 accident near Tappahannock, Virginia, August 19, 2019
On August 19, 2019 at about 7:43 am local time, a 2006 Cirrus SR22, registered N621JE, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Tappahannock, Virginia (Tappahannock-Essex County Airp airport). 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 inability to land on the runway in dark night conditions with reported smoke in the cockpit, which necessitated the deployment of the airplane's parachute system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2019 · about 7:43 am local time
- Place
- Tappahannock, Virginia · Tappahannock-Essex County Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 Undesignat, built 2006 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N621JE · no longer on the register · serial 2168
- 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 a cross-country flight in night visual meteorological conditions, he noticed fumes in the cockpit upon reaching a cruise altitude of 3,500 ft mean sea level. He reported the fumes to air traffic control and diverted to the nearest airport. Shortly thereafter, he noticed smoke in the cockpit and attempted to land at the diversion airport, but the airplane was too high to land, and he performed a go-around. After the first landing attempt, he turned off the air conditioner and electrical system and attempted to land again but was unable to do so due to the darkness and smoke in the cockpit. He subsequently decided to deploy the airframe parachute system. The pilot did not recall anything else due to his injuries. Examination of the wreckage and the airplane's non-volatile memory did not reveal any preimpact electrical or mechanical anomalies that would have resulted in smoke in the cabin; therefore, the reason for the reported fumes and smoke could not be determined.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during enroute defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Air quality/dust/smoke › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Air quality/dust/smoke › Decision related to condition
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 296 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 614 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2019; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 614 hours total
- Not recorded
- Operator: Trident Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: RIC Richmond VA at 7:27 am
- Destination: ESN Easton MD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 am from XSA, 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
12 documents, released by the NTSB on April 15, 2020. 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | radar Plot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Excerpt from ATC Transcript | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for the Record - Wreckage Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Array | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Specialist's Flight Display Factual Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Evidence Control Form | 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.