Cirrus Design CORP SR22T accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, March 7, 2023
On March 7, 2023 at about 6:05 pm local time, a 2014 Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, registered N320CA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville Downtown Island airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 during the takeoff roll where a gusting and shifting crosswind prevailed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2023 · about 6:05 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Knoxville Downtown Island · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, built 2014
- Registration
- N320CA · registry record · serial 0822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane encountered a gusting and shifting crosswind. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and the pilot applied the brakes and reduced engine power. The airplane subsequently struck a culvert, the landing gear partially collapsed, and the airplane’s firewall was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,433 hours in all; 1,222 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,433 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO550K1B (piston); 911 hours total
- Operator: Armstrong Resource Management CORP
The flight
- Departed from: DKX Knoxville TN at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CCO Newman GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 3,499 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KDKX
Weather report (METAR): KDKX 071755Z AUTO 01007KT 10SM CLR 19/03 A3012 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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 June 23, 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N320CA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Continental TSIO550K1B 382 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Knoxville Downtown Island Airport · nearest airport
- Newnan Coweta County · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,535 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA145.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.