Cirrus Design CORP SR22T accident near Fullerton, California, April 13, 2026
On April 13, 2026 at about 9:26 pm local time, a 2019 Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, registered N285AH, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Municipal Airport). It was an executive or corporate 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 loss of control during takeoff, due to the seat sliding aft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2026 · about 9:26 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, built 2019
- Registration
- N285AH · registry record · serial 1863
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after conducting a preflight inspection he entered the airplane and adjusted the seat in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The pilot taxied for departure and performed an engine run-up. After receiving the takeoff clearance from the tower controller, he began the takeoff roll. However, as the pilot applied nose up control input, the seat slid back to the full aft position. The airplane pitched up, yawed to the left, and subsequently impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The preflight inspection and airplane run-up revealed no anomalies. Post accident examination of the left seat, seat rails, and seat locking pins revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The seat was able to slide from stop to stop without the locking pins engaged. When the seat locking pins were engaged in the seat rails, the seat locked in place. The seat movement described by the pilot during the accident sequence was unable to be duplicated. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook states in part, “Crew seats must be locked in position, and control handles fully down before flight.” A non-mandatory service bulletin was issued in August, 2024 by the airframe manufacturer which recommended the installation of a secondary seat latch and stop, which limits how far aft the crew seat can move if the seat pins are not fully engaged. A review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that this service bulletin had not been complied with on the accident airplane. Based on the available evidence, it is unknown if the pilot properly secured the seat or if the seat latching mechanism malfunctioned.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › (general) › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,315 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 7,015 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 5, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 891.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 2025; 65.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KFUL
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFUL 132053Z 19009G22KT 10SM SCT047 BKN055 18/07 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW SLP166 60000 T01780067 58012=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
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
7 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Summary of Seat Track Examination | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cirrus SR22 POH Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Service Bulletin | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Investigation Party Form | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26LA159.