Cirrus Design CORP SR22T accident near Thomson, Georgia, February 6, 2026
On February 6, 2026 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 2022 Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, registered N322MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Thomson, Georgia (Thomson/Mcduffie County Airpor airport). It was an instructional 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
An in-flight collision with a bird while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2026 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Thomson, Georgia · Thomson/Mcduffie County Airpor · 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 2022
- Registration
- N322MC · no longer on the register · serial 8714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that while he and the flight instructor were being provided with radar vectors from air traffic control for an instrument approach, a turkey buzzard appeared in front of the airplane but there was no time to take evasive action. The bird crossed from left to right and impacted the airplane’s right-side windshield and roof structure resulting in substantial damage. The pilot and the flight instructor returned to the airport and landed uneventfully.
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 maneuvering 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 751 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 914 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 6, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 9,952 hours in all; 3,106 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 9,602 as pilot in command; 3,552 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 7, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 648 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO550K2B (piston); 648 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from KHQU, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHQU 061555Z AUTO 25008KT 10SM CLR 08/M01 A2994 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.