Cirrus SR20 accident near Lakewood, New Jersey, May 1, 2017
On May 1, 2017 at about 8:57 pm local time, a 2017 Cirrus SR20, registered N68VY, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Lakewood, New Jersey (Lakewood 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
The student pilot’s failure to adequately compensate for crosswind conditions during a go-around and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2017 · about 8:57 pm local time
- Place
- Lakewood, New Jersey · Lakewood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR20, built 2017 · all SR20s on the register
- Registration
- N68VY · no longer on the register · serial 2346
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, during crosswind landing conditions, the airplane landed hard and subsequently bounced. He added that he initiated a go-around, and then the flight instructor took the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that, after the bounce, the airplane "began to roll to the left in a manner similar to that of an uncoordinated stall." He added that he attempted to regain control of the airplane but was unsuccessful. The airplane rolled right, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 7 miles north of the airport reported that, about 1 minute before the accident, the wind was from 150° at 11 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24.
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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 774 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 705 as pilot in command; 369 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61.3 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 (piston); 42 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Nassau Flyers, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: N12 Lakewood NJ at 7:30 pm
- Destination: N12 Lakewood NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,987 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KBLM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 19, 2017. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Student Pilot Statement | PDF, 3 pages | 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.