Cirrus Design Corp SR22 accident near Front Royal, VA
On March 15, 2008, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Front Royal, VA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 15, 2008
- Place
- Front Royal, VA
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design Corp SR22 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.906°N, 78.319°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080319X00332
Official records · NYC08FA138
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- First Recorded Communications Between Pilot and FSS (Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Second Recorded Communications Between Pilot and FSS (Lansing, Michigan): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Final Communications Between Pilot And FSS (Kankakee, Illinois): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Recorded Communications Between Pilot And Potomac Clearance Delivery: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 14, 2008, at 2350 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR22, N141SR, owned and operated by the private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain during initial climb from Front Royal-Warren County Airport (FRR), Front Royal, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI), Baltimore, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were killed. The flight departed from FRR at 2348. According to the airport manager at FRR, the pilot previously flew IFR from BWI to FRR, and landed uneventfully about 2135. The pilot picked up his son, and departed on runway 27. The airplane subsequently impacted a mountain ridge approximately 3 miles west of FRR. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector viewed video from an airport surveillance camera, with the FRR airport manager. Review of the video revealed that runway lights illuminated about 2348, followed by lights consistent with the accident airplane, rising from runway 27. A fireball was observed on a mountain to the west, about 1 minute 20 seconds after the airplane lights rose from the runway. The airport manager subsequently stated that when he later attempted to download the video, the recording system purged the data. Review of FAA air traffic control (ATC) data, and Lockheed M
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising mountainous terrain, and his failure to turn toward his assigned course during initial climb. Contributing to the accident were the low ceiling, reduced visibility, dark night conditions, and rising mountainous terrain.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · 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.
