Cirrus SR20 accident near San Antonio, Texas, May 31, 2019
On May 31, 2019 at about 7:32 pm local time, a 2002 Cirrus SR20, registered N902ES, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near San Antonio, Texas (Bulverde Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate approach, delayed decision to abort the landing, and failure to properly configure the flap setting for the initial climb during the attempted aborted landing, which resulted in impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2019 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Bulverde Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR20 No Series, built 2002 · all SR20s on the register
- Registration
- N902ES · registry record · serial 1253
- 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 approach, the airspeed was about 80 knots, but the airplane was slightly high. The airplane floated down the runway further than normal before it touched down. When the pilot determined that he would not have enough runway to stop the airplane, he aborted the landing. The airplane did not climb as he expected, and it subsequently impacted trees. The pilot added that he believed that the reason the airplane failed to climb was due to his failure to retract the flaps to 50%. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 116.6 hours in all; 12.6 in this make and model; 12.1 in the last 90 days; 3.2 in the last 30 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 27, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 992.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-ES16B (piston); 826 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1T8 San Antonio TX at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 1T8 San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,890 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 006° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:30 pm, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA19CA299.