Cirrus SR22 accident near Lexington, Nebraska, September 25, 2019
On September 25, 2019 at about 10:20 pm local time, a 2003 Cirrus SR22, registered N1216N, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Lexington, Nebraska (Jim Kelly Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a go around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2019 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, Nebraska · Jim Kelly Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 Undesignat, built 2003 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N1216N · registry record · serial 0549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during approach to land will full flaps, he decided to perform a go around and applied full power. The airplane started turning left and he applied right rudder. The airplane was "low and slow" and was unable to gain altitude. The airplane continued to drift left then subsequently, landed hard in an adjacent field left of the runway. The pilot further reported that, during the go around, he did not adjust the flap setting to the takeoff setting. 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 pilot added that he did not remember if the stall warning horn was going off, but believed that the airplane aerodynamically stalled before impact. The pilot reported that the wind was from 040° at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 050° at 12 knots, 10 statute mile visibility, sky clear, temperature 23°C (73°F), dew point 7°C (45°F), altimeter 29.98" Hg. The airport field elevation was 2412 ft. The pilot was departing on runway 32. The pilot operating handbook checklist titled "Balked Landing/Go-Around" stated in part: 1. Autopilot – DISENGAGE 2. Power Lever – FULL FORWARD 3. Flaps – 50% 4. Airspeed – 75-80 KIAS After clear of obstacles: 1. Flaps – UP The manufacturer published a performance chart titled "Balked Landing Rate of Climb." The calculated rate of climb with full flaps during the balked landing was about 1,168 ft per minute.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 814 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 16, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,130.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-550-N (piston); 3,131 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXN Lexington NE at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,489 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from KLXN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 GAA19CA570.