Cirrus Design Corp SR22 accident near Gary, IN
On October 3, 2012, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gary, IN. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 3, 2012
- Place
- Gary, IN
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design Corp SR22 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.616°N, 87.413°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121003X24635
Official records · CEN13FA002
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control – NTSB Group Chairman factual report: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Chicago approach control and Gary, IN contact tower - letter of agreement: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control – Raw Radar Data: Document (XLSX), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 3, 2012, at 1116 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N308PJ, operated by a commercial pilot, collided with terrain while flying an instrument approach at the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY), Gary, Indiana. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed from ground impact and postimpact fire. The flight was being operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed during the instrument approach portion of the flight and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Smyrna Airport (MQY), Smyrna, Tennessee, at 0925. According to voice recordings provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot first contacted approach control about 35 miles southeast of GYY while in a descent to 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl). After receiving vectors and a further descent to 3,000 feet msl, N308PJ was cleared for the RNAV/GPS Y approach to runway 30 at GYY. At the point of the first approach clearance by air traffic control (ATC), N380PJ was inside the final approach fix (FAF) and 1000 feet above the recommended FAF altitude. After no response was received from the pilot, ATC repeated the approach clearance to N308PJ. The pilot acknowledged this approach clearance, as well as a frequency change to the tower. No further radio transmissions were recorded on either approach or tower control frequencies. After the pilot confirmed the approach clearance, radar returns indicated N308PJ in a descent and close to on course laterally.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during an instrument approach due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were deficient approach control services and the pilot's loss of positional awareness.
More accidents in IN
- Pilatus PC-12, May 25, 2011
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, Sep 11, 1992
- Cessna 310N, Nov 20, 1984
- Cessna T303, Nov 14, 2006
- Cessna U206G, Apr 21, 2006
Browse: Indiana · 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.
