Cirrus Design Corp. SR20 accident near Sierra Vista, AZ
On April 11, 2001, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR20 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sierra Vista, AZ. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 11, 2001
- Place
- Sierra Vista, AZ
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design Corp. SR20 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.759°N, 110.419°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010423X00798
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 10, 2001, about 1850 mountain standard time, a Cirrus SR20 single engine airplane, N116CD, collided with mountainous terrain and burned northwest of Sierra Vista, Arizona. The airplane was destroyed, and the noninstrument rated private pilot and two passengers received fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot/owner as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Tucson, Arizona, International Airport at 1830, with Belen, New Mexico (E80), as the intended destination. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot and two passengers were from Wisconsin, and were in Tucson visiting relatives. According to air traffic control records, the pilot radioed the Tucson Clearance Delivery requesting a visual flight rules (VFR) clearance, with a heading of 100 degrees at 3,800 feet to E80. After takeoff, the pilot was instructed to turn to a heading of 120 degrees and to expect an on course clearance from the next controller, and was then instructed to contact departure control. Departure control instructed the pilot to make a left turn to a heading of 030 degrees. The controller then verified the pilot's requested heading and cleared the flight to turn on course. At 1843, radar service was terminated and the pilot was instructed to squawk VFR (transponder code 1200), to which the pilot acknowledged. Concerned family members reported the aircraft overdue when it failed to arrive as scheduled. Civil Air Patrol initiat
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and attempted VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. Factors in the accident included the adverse weather conditions and the dusk lighting conditions.
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Browse: Arizona · Cirrus aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
