Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Sebring, Florida, October 24, 2024
On October 24, 2024 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 2021 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N50068, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Sebring, Florida. 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
A birdstrike during descent to the destination airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2024 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sebring, Florida · 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 NO SERIES, built 2021
- Registration
- N50068 · registry record · serial 2723
- 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 descent from 3,500 ft to traffic pattern altitude of his destination airport, the airplane impacted a bird at an altitude about 1,900 ft above ground level. The pilot continued to the destination airport and landed uneventfully. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged during the collision.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 162 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 73 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,618 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 21, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Prp Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 4:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from SEF, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSEF 241735Z AUTO 05006KT 10SM SCT042 SCT047 28/19 A3002 RMK AO2 T02830189=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Left Side View of Right Wing Damage
Photograph 2 – Right Side View of Right Wing Damage
Photograph 3 – Closeup View of Right Wing DamageThe 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 January 21, 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 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.
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.