Cirrus Design CORP SR-20 accident near Williston, Florida, June 20, 2008
On June 20, 2008 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cirrus Design CORP SR-20, registered N381CP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Williston, Florida (Williston Municipal Airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to follow the manufacturer's recommended taxiing procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2008 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Williston, Florida · Williston Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR-20
- Registration
- N381CP · registry record · serial 1856
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting a solo flight and had completed two full-stop landings with the intention of completing three more; however, he aborted the subsequent takeoff twice. When the student pilot attempted to stop during the second aborted takeoff, he noticed that the brakes were not functioning properly. As the airplane exited the runway on to the taxiway, smoke was emanating from under the wings. The student pilot, airport supervisor, and fire department extinguished fires on both main landing gear. Data retrieved from the airplane’s primary flight display and multi-functional display revealed that the student pilot executed two landings, followed by two sequential aborted takeoffs, within a time frame of 22 minutes. During that time, ground speeds reached 73 knots and engine power during taxi ranged from 920 to 1,270 rpm. Review of the airplane’s pilot operating handbook (POH) revealed that the maximum recommended continuous engine power for taxiing is 1,000 rpm. If the engine power is exceeded and proper braking procedures are not observed during taxi, wheel brake damage or fire could occur. The student pilot also did not comply with the safety information section in the POH, which recommended adequate cooling time for the brakes after heavy use. Examination of the landing gear brake assemblies revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. The combination of the high-speed aborted takeoffs and the excessive taxi speed resulted in both wheel brakes failing and catching on fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 272 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 2008; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Capt LLC
The flight
- Departed from: X60 Williston FL at 2:20 pm
- Destination: X60 Williston FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 6,390 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from GNV, 23 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 MIA08LA123.