Cirrus SR22 accident near Denver, Colorado, June 2, 2019
On June 2, 2019 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 2008 Cirrus SR22, registered N581SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Denver, Colorado (Centennial 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 pilot's improper control inputs on approach, which resulted in a hard landing near the runway edge, a runway excursion, and impact with runway lighting. Contributing to the accident was 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
- June 2, 2019 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 Undesignat, built 2008 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N581SD · registry record · serial 3171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot under instruction reported that he had recently purchased the airplane and that the accident occurred during his third dual-instruction flight in the airplane. The flight instructor requested a short approach to accomplish a simulated engine failure approach and landing. The pilot reported that ground instruction for the simulated engine failure was never accomplished. The instructor requested a simulated emergency landing on runway 17, which was denied by the tower controller due to traffic. The instructor then requested a simulated emergency landing on runway 28, which the tower controller approved. The airplane intersected the extended centerline of runway 28 at a 45° angle. The instructor told the pilot to reduce the power to idle and initiate the approach at 100 knots. The pilot recalled that, by the time glide speed was established, "we were on top of the numbers." The instructor told the pilot to turn right, but he believed that it was too late to turn and align the airplane with the runway heading. The airplane touched down hard on the left edge of the runway, exited the left side of the runway, and impacted runway lights. The flight instructor reported that he had provided the pilot ground instruction on how to execute a power-off landing at least twice. The instructor added that, when he told the pilot to start turning, he did not respond and that, after the airplane overshot the right turn point toward the runway, he took the controls, leveled the airplane, and then applied full power. After the airplane exited the left side of the runway, he pulled the power off. His hand was on top of the pilot's, who subsequently added full power. The instructor reduced the power, but the pilot added full power again. The instructor was able to steer the airplane and stop it on the runway. A review of surveillance footage of the accident provided by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that, during the approach, the airplane converged on about a 45° angle toward runway 28. When the airplane approached the runway numbers, the right wing dropped rapidly, and the nose pitched up. Seconds later, the left wing dropped rapidly, and the airplane impacted the left side of the runway just before reaching the runway aim point markings. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lighting. The airplane remained upright and returned to the runway surface before coming to a stop about mid-field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,444 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,444 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 15, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 67 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 31, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 753 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 746 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Denver CO at 1:15 pm
- Destination: APA Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KAPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.
