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Accidents · NTSB ERA22LA352 · Final report

Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Nixon, Pennsylvania, August 3, 2022

On August 3, 2022 at about 4:25 pm local time, a 2002 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N459BT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Nixon, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh/Butler Rgnl 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, resulting in a runway excursion. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane’s right side door was properly secured prior to departing on the accident flight, and his subsequent distraction due to the door during the landing attempt.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 3, 2022 · about 4:25 pm local time
Place
Nixon, Pennsylvania · Pittsburgh/Butler Rgnl · 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, built 2002
Registration
N459BT · registry record · serial 1225
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 while departing from the runway the right cockpit door opened. The pilot was unable to close the door and he decided to return to the airport to close the door on the ground. While on final approach and near the runway, the pilot thought he heard the stall warning horn, so he immediately flared the airplane to land. The airplane bounced twice on the runway, so the pilot attempted to abort the landing by advancing the throttle. The airplane veered to the left, exited the runway, and the pilot reduced the throttle in an attempt to maintain directional control. The airplane then struck the runway’s precision approach path indicator before coming to rest in a ditch. The airplane’s firewall was substantially damaged. Following the accident, the pilot stated, “In hindsight I don't think the sound I heard was the stall warning horn, but rather the sound squealing through the partially open door which confused me into thinking the aircraft had stalled.” Given this information, it is likely that the pilot was distracted by the open right door during the landing, which contributed to his loss of control during the landing attempt. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident reported that she did not observe evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and specifically that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane’s right door latch. Given this information, it is also likely that the pilot had failed to ensure that the door was properly secured prior to departing on the accident flight.

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

  1. Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
  2. Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)

The NTSB's findings

  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Incorrect use/operation
  • Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Perception › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 598 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 553 as pilot in command; 156 on instruments
  • Last flight review: January 21, 2022
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,660 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 2022; 20 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental IO-360-ES (piston); 1,660 hours total

The flight

  • Destination: AOO Altoona PA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 26, 4,801 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
  • Observation at 12:56 pm from BTP

Weather report (METAR): KBTP 031656Z AUTO 20006KT 10SM CLR A3004 RMK AO2 SLPNO FZRANO TSNO $

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 15, 2023. 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.

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.