Incident Overview
On November 13, 2008, a Cirrus SR22 with registration N827GM was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain and automobiles in Tallahassee, Florida. The accident occurred at 19:14 Eastern Standard Time under night instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured, while one person on the ground suffered serious injuries and two others sustained minor injuries.
Flight Progression
The aircraft departed Port Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio at 14:29, operating under an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan destined for Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH). The pilot requested an ILS runway 27 approach. Radar data and GPS records indicated that the airplane initially joined the localizer but veered off to the right approximately five nautical miles from the airport. It then flew a serpentine pattern before turning south. The final GPS position was recorded almost directly above the accident site at an altitude of 30 feet.
Wreckage and CAPS Status
The aircraft came to rest upside down in the front yard of a house, having struck two parked cars and snapped transmission wires. The engine separated from the fuselage, and the right wing was fragmented. No mechanical anomalies were found in the engine. Notably, the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) was not deployed. Investigation revealed that the maintenance safety pin was still inserted through the handle retainer, with the "Remove Before Flight" streamer attached, indicating the system was disarmed.
Personnel and Medical Data
The 64-year-old pilot held a private certificate with instrument ratings. His logbook showed he had recently acquired the aircraft on October 8, 2008, and had completed several flights with a certified flight instructor prior to the accident. Autopsy results determined the cause of death for the occupants as multiple blunt force trauma. Toxicological testing yielded no anomalies.