Cirrus SR22 accident near Trenton, New Jersey, June 9, 2019
On June 9, 2019 at about 7:10 pm local time, a 2010 Cirrus SR22, registered N616AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Trenton, New Jersey (Trenton Mercer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2019 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Trenton, New Jersey · Trenton Mercer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 Undesignat, built 2010 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N616AB · no longer on the register · serial 3616
- 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 landing with a crosswind, before touchdown, a wind gust pushed the airplane left. The airplane touched down, the pilot attempted to correct, but the airplane exited the runway to the left. The left wing struck the ground, and the empennage separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located 15 miles southwest of the accident site reported that, about 16 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 090° at 18 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was variable from 080° to 110° and gusting between 12 and 18 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 06.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 353 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 254 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 791 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 610 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IPT Williamsport PA at 6:10 pm
- Destination: TTN Trenton NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 6,006 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from KPNE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 2, 2019. 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 | Accident 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.