Tuscaloosa Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
Monday, May 10, 2010 19:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot contacted the air traffic control tower and reported that he was 12 miles from the airport and had the intention of performing a full-stop landing. The pilot contacted the tower a short time later and stated that he had the airport in sight, but was too close, and needed to make a 360-degree turn to lose altitude. After completing the turn, the controller observed the airplane left of the final approach path. It then made a turn, aligning it right of course. The airplane was about 50 feet from the end of the runway when the left wing dipped and the airplane flipped over, colliding with the ground. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. According to the manufacturer, the airplane will stall at an indicated airspeed of about 72 knots in a 45-degree angle of bank. The airplaneā€™s last recorded bank angle on the primary flight display was about 48 degrees left-wing down and the airspeed was about 63 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and collision with the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/10/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Tuscaloosa
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35401
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331314N
Event Location Longitude 0873641W
Event Location Airport Tuscaloosa Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TCL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 170
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TCL
Elevation of weather observation facility 170
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
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) 30.12
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 --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27878
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2010 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N424LF
NTSB Number ERA10FA259
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
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 1583
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 3
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 Dec 12 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 59
Airframe Hours 359
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Dagmar Transport LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1 Commerce CTR, 1201 N Orange St Suite 600
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19801
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Mark H. Yellen
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Memphis
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38112
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 TMB
Departure City Miami
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1704
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TCL
Destination City Tuscaloosa
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2010 4:21PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 6499
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --