Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Brinnon, Washington, April 2, 2017
On April 2, 2017 at about 10:28 pm local time, a 2004 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N167CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Brinnon, Washington. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's decision to fly into a valley without ensuring adequate clearance to avoid the rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2017 · about 10:28 pm local time
- Place
- Brinnon, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22 NO SERIES, built 2004
- Registration
- N167CB · no longer on the register · serial 0822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot departed on a planned 3-hour instructional flight. While en route, the flight instructor stated that he wanted to show the student that there was more to flying than just training and that flying was also "fun." The pilots subsequently turned the airplane toward a large river valley in mountainous terrain. The pilots flew into an area of rapidly rising terrain and realized they needed to climb to avoid terrain. The flight instructor applied full power and pitched the airplane up into a climb; however, the terrain rose faster than the airplane was climbing. The flight instructor instructed the student pilot to start a right turn. Shortly thereafter, he felt the turn was too slow, and he took control of the airplane. The flight instructor stated that things were happening too fast for him to recover the airplane. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain in a box canyon, with ridgelines between 100 feet to several hundred feet higher than the accident site. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Ability to respond/compensate
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 22, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 5 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 841.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2016; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 N (27) (piston); 860 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W10 Langley WA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: PWT Bremerton WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 17 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KSHN, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on June 11, 2020. 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 | Cockpit Displays - Recorded Flight Data Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Cockpit Displays - Recorded Data Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 Tabular Data | data file | Download |
| 3 | Weather Study - Meteorology | PDF, 23 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Meteorology - Attachment 1 - Satellite Animation | GIF file | Download |
| 5 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators Exceprt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Tips on Mountaiin Flying | PDF, 18 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Accident Photos | PDF, 13 pages | 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.