Statesville Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Statesville, North Carolina 28687
Friday, October 27, 2006 12:16 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan and obtained an abbreviated weather briefing for a flight from North Palm Beach, Florida, to a visual flight rules (VFR) airport at Mooresville, North Carolina, with a 1200 arrival. The forecast for the destination airport was: overcast ceiling at 1,000 feet, visibility 5 miles, with light rain and mist. The closest terminal aerodrome forecast to the pilot's destination airport was Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, approximately 30 miles south of the accident site. The forecast at 1026 was: overcast ceiling at 400 feet, visibility 2 miles, in moderate rain and mist. The forecast at 1131 was: overcast ceiling at 400 feet, visibility 1 1/2 miles, in light rain and mist. Between 1200 to 1600 the ceiling was forecast for 700 feet and 2 miles visibility. The pilot did not obtain any weather updates while en-route. Upon arrival in the Charlotte area, the controller cleared the pilot to start his descent. The pilot asked the controller for the weather at his destination airport. The controller informed the pilot the weather was IFR. The pilot requested and received clearance to divert to Statesville Regional Airport. The pilot was vectored and subsequently cleared for the ILS Runway 28 approach at Statesville. The pilot stated he flew the approach with the autopilot on, and completed the before landing check, lowered the flaps to 50 percent and ultimately 100 percent. He stated he did not remember descending below the clouds, or any events associated with the accident. Witnesses observed the airplane come out of the clouds over the runway. An increase in engine power was heard, the airplane was observed to start a right turn and entered the clouds. The pilot initiated a circling approach without ATC clearance and without the required weather minima for a circling approach. Witnesses heard the airplane north of the airport in the clouds, and observed the airplane a short time later below the clouds on the south side of runway 28, traveling from southeast to northwest. The airplane crossed the runway, entered the clouds, came out of the clouds, and was observed making a steep turn to the right and back to the left. The nose of the airplane then pitched down, and the airplane collided with trees and the ground. The checklist for a balked landing requires the pilot to set the flaps at 50 percent, airspeed between 75 to 85 KIAS until clear of obstacles, and then raise the flaps to 0 percent. The flaps at the crash site were extended 100 percent.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering with a low ceiling in instrument flight conditions, resulting in an inadvertent stall, and collision with trees and the ground. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to follow the published missed approach procedures, and the airplane's checklist procedures for a balked landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/27/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1216
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Statesville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28687
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 354532N
Event Location Longitude 0805714W
Event Location Airport Statesville Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KSVH
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 965
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1221 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSVH
Elevation of weather observation facility 965
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
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) 1.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21165
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 27 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 26 2007 9:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Charlotte FSDO-33

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N969ES
NTSB Number ATL07FA013
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cirrus Design Corp.
Aircraft Model SR22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number IO-550-N (7)
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 Jul 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20.9
Airframe Hours 598.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Edward A. Sasso
Aircraft Owner Street Address 143 Sierra Woods Drive
Aircraft Owner City Troutman
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28166
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F45
Departure City West Palm Beach
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 14A
Destination City Mooresville
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 14 2007 3:06PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 7005
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --