Cirrus SR22 accident near Grotten, Connecticut, June 21, 2019
On June 21, 2019 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2017 Cirrus SR22, registered N727HG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Grotten, Connecticut (Groton-New London 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 improper landing flare and failure to maintain pitch control, which resulted in a porpoised landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2019 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grotten, Connecticut · Groton-New London · 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 2017 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N727HG · registry record · serial 4489
- 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, while landing with gusting winds, the airplane porpoised on touchdown, so he chose to go around and "shoot the approach again." During the second landing, the airplane porpoised on touchdown. The pilot regained control of the airplane and taxied to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 26 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 360° at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 020° at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 5.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 26, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 882.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO 550K (piston); 886 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPN White Plains NY at 2:30 pm
- Destination: GON Grotten CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 05, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.52 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KGON
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 9, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Operator) | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | 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.