Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Pahokee, Florida, December 18, 2023
On December 18, 2023 at about 10:35 pm local time, a 2021 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N875SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Pahokee, Florida (Palm Beach County Glades airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after encountering a wind gust during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 2023 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Pahokee, Florida · Palm Beach County Glades · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20, built 2021
- Registration
- N875SB · registry record · serial 2720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during a transition training instructional flight, and the pilot receiving instruction had not previously logged any flight experience in the accident airplane make and model. The pilot receiving instruction reported that on final approach they entered a side slip to align with the runway. The airplane was stable approaching the threshold but once past the threshold the airplane started to drift to the right of the centerline. The pilot called for a go-around and controls were passed to the flight instructor. The flight instructor stated that 20-30 feet above the runway the tail began to swing from left to right and he took control of the airplane. The airplane floated over the runway for a few seconds while he used the rudder to compensate for the unexpected gust of wind. The flight instructor stated that the airplane became difficult to control before one wing contacted the runway. The tail structure separated from the fuselage and the fuselage, engine mount, and both wings were substantially damaged. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact 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 in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,605 hours in all; 145 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,438 as pilot in command; 764 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 29, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 379 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 107.7 in the last 90 days; 26.2 in the last 30 days; 298.6 as pilot in command; 110.9 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 802.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 13, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 (piston); 802 hours total
- Operator: Skyblue Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: F45 North Palm Beach FL at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,116 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from 2IS, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K2IS 182235Z AUTO 31012KT 10SM CLR 17/10 A2992 RMK AO2 T01730100=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 21, 2024. 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 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Instructor Statement Follow-up | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 pages | 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.