No fatalities

20 Jul 2011: CIRRUS SR20 — Western Michigan University — Battle Creek, MI

Battle Creek, MI, United States

On 20 Jul 2011, a CIRRUS SR20 operated by Western Michigan University was involved in an aviation accident near Battle Creek, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot executed a go-around due to a high descent angle, then attempted a second approach with lower angle but faster speed and idle power. The airplane experienced a hard landing, bounced twice, and after power application and flap retraction, veered off the runway, impacting terrain and a fence.

Incident Overview

A student pilot was performing a landing approach when the descent angle was too high, prompting a go-around. The pilot subsequently attempted another approach with a lower descent angle but at a somewhat faster airspeed while maintaining idle engine power.

Hard Landing and Bounce Sequence

During the subsequent landing attempt, the airplane contacted the runway in a flat attitude, resulting in a hard landing. The aircraft then bounced twice before the pilot applied full engine power and retracted the flaps from 100 percent to 50 percent.

Runway Excursion and Impact

Following the flap retraction, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. It then impacted terrain and a fence, coming to a stop. The accident sequence resulted in substantial damage to the empennage and one wing.

Damage Assessment

The aircraft sustained substantial damage, specifically to the empennage (tail section) and one wing. No other damage details were provided.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operation