Cirrus Design CORP SR20 accident near Sedona, Arizona, May 12, 2026
On May 12, 2026 at about 11:50 pm local time, a 2013 Cirrus Design CORP SR20, registered N806DM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control due to a plastic foreign object jammed in the rudder pedals, while landing with a gusting left crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2026 · about 11:50 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR20, built 2013
- Registration
- N806DM · registry record · serial 2228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on the final leg of the traffic pattern at the destination airport, he applied left crosswind correction and noted that the right rudder pedal was stiff. When the main landing gear contacted the runway surface, the rudder pedal was stuck. The pilot attempted to maintain control of the airplane; however, the airplane yawed to the right and exited the runway surface. Subsequently, the left wing impacted an airport sign, which resulted in substantial damage. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 21 with the wind from 150° at 12 knots, gusting to 23 knots. Post accident examination revealed that a plastic foreign object was stuck in the right rudder pedal. The pilot added that during the flight, he observed a plastic foreign object bouncing around the cockpit earlier in the flight but was not sure what it was.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 28.5 in this make and model; 90.3 in the last 90 days; 39.3 in the last 30 days; 115.7 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 24, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,519.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 5, 2026; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-ES (piston); 49,723 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,132 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KSEZ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSEZ 122335Z AUTO 21012G23KT 180V240 10SM CLR 33/M05 A3010 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N806DM on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Continental IO-360-ES 401 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sedona Airport · nearest airport
- Falcon Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 467 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,436 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA187.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.