Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stuart, Florida 34996
Saturday, February 4, 2006 16:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane took off at 1556. Approach Control observed the airplane in a turn. At 1559, one of the pilots reported they were having trouble with their instruments, and requested clearance to return to the airport. This was the last communication with the flight. Radar contact was lost at 1600. Both the pilot and his wife were instrument rated. The airplane was instrument equipped and certified for instrument flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The wreckage was located in the ocean approximately 3 miles offshore at a depth of 60 feet. The memory device recovered from the MFD was damaged to the extent that no data could be extracted. Engine examination revealed no anomalies. Examination of the CAPS rocket motor indicated it had fired when the airplane struck the water. This broke the activation cable and put pressure on the igniter spring. Water resistance, however, kept the parachute from deploying.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with the water. Contributing to the accident were a reported instrument failure, pilot disorientation, and instrument meteorological conditions. A factor in the severity of the impact was the pilot's failure to deploy the airplane's onboard parachute system.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/4/2006
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Stuart
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34996
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 271216N
Event Location Longitude 0800800W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1547 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID SUA
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.8
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22919
NTSB Notification Source FAA Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 4 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Lauderdale FSDO-17

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N667WP
NTSB Number MIA06FA050
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cirrus Design Corp.
Aircraft Model SR-22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0341
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 487
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Aircraft Guaranty Management & Trust LLC Trustee
Aircraft Owner Street Address 515 N. Sam Houston Pkwy., E., Suite 305
Aircraft Owner City Houston
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77060
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SUA
Departure City Stuart
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1556
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SGJ
Destination City St. Augustine
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 21 2007 11:07AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --