Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, March 27, 2026
On March 27, 2026 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2017 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N41CA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (change of cruise level) near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona International Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a bird while enroute.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2026 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2017
- Registration
- N41CA · registry record · serial 4559
- 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 the enroute portion of the flight, he received instructions from air traffic control to descend to an altitude of 1,000 ft for departing traffic. Shortly after executing the descent, several birds suddenly appeared in front of the airplane leaving no time to take evasive action. One of the birds impacted, the airplane’s left-side windshield and roof structure, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot declared an emergency and landed uneventfully at a nearby airport.
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 (change of cruise level) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,178 hours in all; 774 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,108 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 26, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 800.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2026; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N -68B (piston); 800 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA at 1:08 pm
- Destination: TIX Titusville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25R, 10,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from DAB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDAB 271453Z 25004KT 10SM CLR 25/18 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP214 T02500178 51011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture 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 22, 2026. 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 | NTSB 6120 1 Form | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 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.