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Accidents · NTSB ERA23FA182 · Final report

Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Jesup, Georgia, April 6, 2023

On April 6, 2023 at about 11:50 am local time, a 2004 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N911TK, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Jesup, Georgia (Jesup-Wayne County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering for a visual landing in low ceiling and low visibility conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt a visual landing in low visibility conditions.

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

What the record shows

Date
April 6, 2023 · about 11:50 am local time
Place
Jesup, Georgia · Jesup-Wayne County · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
Aircraft
Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2004
Registration
N911TK · registry record · serial 1001
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The instrument-rated private pilot was commuting to work in his airplane. The pilot did not request any air traffic control services for the 22-minute flight, and the airspace at the destination airport was not tower-controlled. Recorded track data revealed that the pilot began a descent to the destination airport and crossed over the approach end of the runway on a heading perpendicular to the runway heading. He then made two turns of about 180° while flying at airspeeds near the airplane’s published stall speed, and reached about 40° of bank during each turn. Additionally, the post-accident position of the flaps suggested that at least the final phase of this maneuvering was being performed with the wing flaps retracted. The airplane impacted terrain about 1,200 ft short of the runway approach end and about 40 ft north of runway centerline. Although there was an instrument approach procedure for the runway, the track data revealed that there was no attempt by the pilot to execute it. The lowest weather minimums for the approach required at least one mile visibility. Weather at the destination airport at the time of the accident included a 300-ft ceiling, ¼ mile visibility in fog, and calm wind. The weather conditions cleared about an hour after the accident. A postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. Engine operation was recorded on the onboard avionics and revealed increasing power at impact consistent with the pilot advancing the throttle. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot attempted to fly under the low overcast while trying to acquire the airport visually. During this attempt, he excessively banked the airplane at slow speed, and with the wing flaps retracted, exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, and lost control of the airplane, resulting in a collision with terrain. His tendency to not be late for appointments may have added self-induced pressure and affected his decision-making during the 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 in flight during approach defining event
  2. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent

The NTSB's findings

  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
  • Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Decision related to condition
  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 953 hours in all; 419 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 977.8 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 2022; 23 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental IO-550-N (27) (piston); 977 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: FHB Fernandina Beach FL at 11:28 am
  • Destination: JES Jesup GA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 29, 5,500 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 300 ft
  • Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
  • Observation at 7:50 am from KJES, 1 miles away

Weather report (METAR): KJES 061150Z AUTO 00000KT 1/4SM FG OVC003 17/16 A3023 RMK AO2

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

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

20 documents, released by the NTSB on January 29, 2025. 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.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Combined Interview Summaries PDF, 6 pages · our copy View Download
2 Memorandum for Record - Flight Instructor Interview PDF, 3 pages · our copy View Download
3 Pilot's Logbook Excerpts PDF, 23 pages · our copy View Download
4 Pilot's Training Records PDF, 13 pages · our copy View Download
5 Excerpts - Aircraft Logbook PDF, 11 pages · our copy View Download
6 Excerpts - Engine Logbook PDF, 13 pages · our copy View Download
7 Excerpt - SR22 POH - Stall Speeds PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
8 Investigation Photographs PDF, 7 pages · our copy View Download
9 Meteorology PDF, 26 pages · our copy View Download
10 Wreckage Diagram PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
11 Wreckage Examination Summary PDF, 8 pages · our copy View Download
12 Toxicological Report PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
13 Medical Factual Memorandum for Record PDF, 2 pages · our copy View Download
14 Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation PDF, 14 pages · our copy View Download
15 Cockpit Displays - Specialist's Factual Report PDF, 16 pages · our copy View Download
16 Cockpit Displays - Attachment 1 (PFD Tabular Data) data file · our copy Download
17 Cockpit Displays - Attachment 2 (MFD Tabular Data) data file · our copy Download
18 RNAV GPS Runway 29 Approach PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
19 Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
20 Evidence Control Form PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download

The same docket at the NTSB.

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.