Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near St. George, Utah, October 28, 2024
On October 28, 2024, a 2020 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N27WF, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near St. George, Utah (St George Rgnl airport). It was an instructional 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
A partial loss of power for reasons that could not be determined due to postimpact fire damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2024
- Place
- St. George, Utah · St George Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20, built 2020
- Registration
- N27WF · registry record · serial 2598
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that after departure, the airplane’s acceleration felt sluggish. Despite troubleshooting, the airplane would not climb as expected and he decided to return to the airport. After realizing that the airplane would not make it back to the runway, he made an off-airport landing on soft desert terrain. The airplane landed hard and erupted into flames. A review of the recorded engine monitor data did not identify an abrupt loss of manifold pressure, fuel flow, oil pressure, or combustion from an individual cylinder during the takeoff or flight. The engine did not attain its rated speed despite the manifold pressure remaining as expected for takeoff, and the airplane accelerated slowly during the takeoff roll. The data were consistent with reduced available power or thrust during the takeoff and initial climb. The recorded data alone could not determine whether the reduced performance resulted from the engine fuel-metering or mixture system, the ignition system, or the propeller system. The postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures; however, numerous systems were unable to be examined due to excessive damage from the postaccident fire. Therefore, the reason for the reduction of power could not be determined.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,080 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,617 as pilot in command; 1,195 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 2024; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 (piston); 1,537 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01/1, 9,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from KGCN, 41 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGCN 272354Z 21007KT 10SM CLR 19/M06 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP181 T01941061 10217 20194 56008 ?
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on September 10, 2026. 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 | Recoverable Data Module Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Attachment 1 to Recoverable Data Module Specialist's Factual Report | data file | Download |
| 3 | Investigative Supplemental Material | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N27WF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.