Cirrus SR22 accident near Upland, California, November 7, 2019
On November 7, 2019 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2007 Cirrus SR22, registered N220MT, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Upland, California (Cable Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2019 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR22 Undesignat, built 2007 · all SR22s on the register
- Registration
- N220MT · no longer on the register · serial 2748
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Radar data indicated that, when the accident airplane was about 1 nautical mile southwest of the airport, another airplane entered a left downwind leg for the landing runway. The first airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern when the accident airplane entered the left downwind. The accident airplane's speed slowly decreased as it continued the downwind leg, and the first airplane landed when the accident airplane was turning toward the base leg at about 69 knots groundspeed. Shortly thereafter, the airplane descended and impacted a residential area about 1/2 mile from the runway threshold. A witness saw the accident airplane enter the traffic pattern shortly behind the first airplane. As the first airplane landed, the accident airplane was on base to final flying “low and very slow,” like it was “waiting for” the first airplane. The left wing dropped, and the airplane descended to the ground. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain. It is possible that the pilot may have been distracted by the airplane landing in front of him, which contributed to his loss of situation awareness regarding the airplane’s speed.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 650 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,174 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 2019
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo IO-550-N (piston); 1,174 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA
- Destination: CCB Upland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,863 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from CCB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2021. 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 - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Google Earth Images | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | radar Data - Google Earth | map file | Download |
| 4 | radar Playback | video | View Download |
| 5 | Witness Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Record of Conversation - Airplane's Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | On Scene Observations | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Postaccident Airframe and Engine Examination Observations | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Toxicological Report | 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.