Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Tucumcari, New Mexico, September 25, 2021
On September 25, 2021 at about 7:35 pm local time, a 2016 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N216FC, was destroyed in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Tucumcari, New Mexico (Tucumcari Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard and bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2021 · about 7:35 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Tucumcari, New Mexico · Tucumcari Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2016
- Registration
- N216FC · no longer on the register · serial 4377
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, he initiated a left downwind approach and noted gusty wind conditions while on final. The airplane landed hard and bounced twice. The pilot initiated a go-around, however he stated that he was unable to maintain altitude and the airplane likely stalled. The airplane came to rest in the adjacent grass area left of the runway and was destroyed by the post impact fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 540 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 367.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2021; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N (piston); 500 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 7,104 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KTCC
Weather report (METAR): KTCC 251953Z AUTO 21008G16KT 10SM CLR 30/08 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP145 T03000078
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Airplane at the accident site.
Photo 2 – Initial impact point and propeller with the airplane in the background.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N216FC: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N 2,788 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Tucumcari Municipal · nearest airport
- Phoenix Deer Valley Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,108 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA355.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.