Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near West Milford, New Jersey, September 28, 2025
On September 28, 2025 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 2013 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N283WT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near West Milford, New Jersey (Greenwood Lake airport). It was a personal 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 improper landing flare and subsequent failure to recover from a hard bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2025 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- West Milford, New Jersey · Greenwood Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2013
- Registration
- N283WT · registry record · serial 3938
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was on a stabilized approach to land and that when he believed he had the appropriate sight picture, he reduced engine power and flared the airplane. The airplane then bounced and he attempted to recover the landing, but it bounced a second time and veered left of the runway centerline. The pilot aborted the landing and increased engine power, but the airplane veered further left. The pilot then reduced engine power and the airplane came to rest in bushes adjacent to the runway. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the pilot did not adequately “round out” the landing flare and the airplane bounced and yawed to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the yaw with excessive left and right aileron control inputs, and both of the airplane’s wing tips contacted the runway surface. The airplane then settled on the main landing gear and departed the runway to the left before it impacted an area of bushes resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Neither the pilot nor the passenger reported any pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, remote
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo IO-550-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 3,471 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from CDW, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCDW 281753Z 30009KT 10SM CLR 29/14 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02940144 10294 20183 58010=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 18, 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 | Memorandum for Record A��pilot/operator Aircraft Accident/incident Report Solicitation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot's Email Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Passenger Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative 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.