Cirrus SR20 accident near Toms River, NJ
On September 3, 2023, a Cirrus SR20 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Toms River, NJ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 3, 2023
- Place
- Toms River, NJ
- Aircraft
- Cirrus SR20 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.920°N, 74.315°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230903192992
Official records · ERA23FA358
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 2, 2023, at 2218 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR20, N420PB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Toms River, New Jersey. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight. The accident pilot’s flight instructor reported that he received a message from the pilot, who stated that he was going flying that night. The instructor stated that he had endorsed the pilot for solo flight at night to Ocean County Airport (MJX). ADS-B track data indicated that the accident occurred during the student pilot’s fourth takeoff following three left traffic patterns on the east side of the runway to full-stop landings. ADS-B data showed the airplane at 275 ft mean sea level (msl) and 62 kts groundspeed as it climbed above the runway to 425 ft before it leveled for about 30 seconds between 425 ft and 500 ft. The airplane’s groundspeed in the climb slowed and was steady at 56 kts. Once level, the airplane accelerated slowly to about 90 kts groundspeed, where it initiated a descending, accelerating right turn over forested terrain until the last data target, which showed the airplane at 150 ft and 128 kts groundspeed. Two separate airport surveillance videos captured the airplane; the first video showed the airplane in a shallow climb after takeoff before the airplane continued out of frame. The second showed the airplane in a descent below the tree line, followed by a postimpact fire. Other pilots operating at and around MJX on the night of the accident s
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a positive climb rate after takeoff due to spatial disorientation (somatogravic illusion), which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.
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Browse: New Jersey · 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.
