Cirrus Design CORP SR22T accident near Vernal, Utah, May 16, 2026
On May 16, 2026 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2013 Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, registered N252LM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Vernal, Utah (Vernal Regional 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 failure to maintain control during the landing flare with a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2026 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vernal, Utah · Vernal Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22T, built 2013
- Registration
- N252LM · registry record · serial 0543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the airplane reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered an estimated over 40 knot crosswind gust. The right wing was lifted; the pilot corrected with aileron and rudder and applied full power to the engine to go-around. Subsequently, the left-wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane spun 180° as it exited the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 17 with wind from 280° at 16 knots, gusting 25 knots. A peak gust recorded one minute after the accident was from 270° at 37 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,454 hours in all; 580 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,337 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,086 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 2026; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-550-K (piston); 1,086 hours total
- Operator: Forest Restoration INC
The flight
- Departed from: KGNG Gooding ID at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KVEL
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVEL 161953Z AUTO 28016G25KT 10SM FEW033 BKN110 22/M02 A2979 RMK AO2 PK WND 27046/1941 RAB36E53 SLP024 P0000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Forward view of airplane
Photograph 2 – Top view of broken wing root
Photograph 3 – Underside view of broken wing rootThe 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 June 25, 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 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.
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.