Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near South St Paul, Minnesota, May 14, 2016
On May 14, 2016 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2004 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N323FT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near South St Paul, Minnesota (South St Paul Muni-Richard E F airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive nose high pitch attitude, which resulted in a tail strike during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2016 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- South St Paul, Minnesota · South St Paul Muni-Richard E F · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20 NO SERIES, built 2004
- Registration
- N323FT · registry record · serial 1432
- 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 landing flare the airplane impacted the ground in a slight nose high pitch attitude, which resulted in a tail strike. The pilot further reported that he taxied to the ramp area without further incident. A postaccident examination by the pilot revealed substantial damage to the rudder. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Tailstrike during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,493.3 hours in all; 113.6 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 14.6 in the last 30 days; 1,420 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 13, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-E5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGS South St Paul MN at 7:40 pm
- Destination: SGS South St Paul MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from KSGS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 26, 2016. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Damage Assessment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.