Cirrus SR22 accident near Winslow, Arizona, March 31, 2011
On March 31, 2011 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cirrus SR22, registered N957CD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Winslow, Arizona (Winslow-Lindbergh Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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 in gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2011 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Winslow, Arizona · Winslow-Lindbergh Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 NO SERIES · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N957CD · no longer on the register · serial 1835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was on a stabilized approach. Upon landing, the right main gear touched down prior to the left main, and then a gust of wind lifted the airplane back into the air. The airplane slammed back into the ground, and the pilot lost control. As he was trying to regain control, another gust picked the airplane up, and pushed it off the centerline of the runway. He applied power and attempted to abort the landing. He indicated that the wind did not let up, and the airplane was about to flip over. He managed to keep it upright, but crashed after crossing the parallel taxiway. The empennage separated from the airframe. He stated that the reported wind was from 320 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 27 knots.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
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 › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 363 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 244 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,660 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 16, 2011; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N(27) (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Independance Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LVS Las Vegas NM at 9:15 pm
- Destination: INW Winslow AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 7,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 16 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from KINW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.