Cirrus SR22 accident near Hudson, New York, June 30, 2018
On June 30, 2018 at about 1:45 am local time, a 2010 Cirrus SR22, registered N615EM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hudson, New York (Columbia County 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
Collision with a deer during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2018 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Hudson, New York · Columbia County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 No Series, built 2010 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N615EM · registry record · serial 3682
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, following a night visual flight rules cross-country flight, he overflew the destination airport at 1,500 ft above ground level and set up a normal approach. Just before touchdown, he saw a deer walk onto the runway from the right and collide with the left main landing gear, which then separated from the airplane. As the airplane settled, the left wing struck the runway, and the airplane veered left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage the left wing spar and the left main landing gear attachment points. The airport facility directory did not contain a note to caution that deer were in the vicinity of the airport. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 680.2 hours in all; 113.8 in this make and model; 53.4 in the last 90 days; 14.5 in the last 30 days; 633.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 20, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 880 hours total
- Operator: Ginther Associates LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CGS College Park MD
- Destination: 1B1 Hudson NE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 20, 2018. 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 | Photo | 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.