History of Flight
On March 29, 2017, about 2156 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR-20, registration N580PU, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control while landing on runway 5 at Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), Fort Wayne, Indiana. The flight instructor received minor injuries and the pilot receiving instruction received serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to the Trustees of Purdue University and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which originated from Purdue University Airport (LAF) about 2100 with an intended route returning to LAF via stops at FWA and South Bend International Airport (SBN).
According to the flight instructor, the student applied crosswind correction during the landing approach with the right wing low and the nose aligned with the runway. During the flare, the airplane suddenly and severely rolled to the left, and the instructor heard what he believed to be the left wing scraping the runway. He took control, applied full power and full right aileron for a go-around, but the right aileron input had little effect. The wind pushed the airplane left of the runway. As airspeed increased, the instructor leveled the wings and began to pitch up, but at about 25-50 feet above ground, the airplane rolled right and nosed down, impacting the ground.
The student reported that on final approach, they used a crab to correct for strong winds from the right. After crossing the runway threshold, they reduced power and transitioned into a slip. During the flare, a strong gust pushed the airplane left, and a go-around was initiated, but the left wingtip struck the runway. The instructor then took control.
Personnel Information
The flight instructor held commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates with single-engine land and instrument ratings. He had 414 total flight hours, 188 in the same make and model. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued June 3, 2015.
The pilot receiving instruction held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. He had 157.5 total flight hours, all in the same make and model. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued July 12, 2016.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Cirrus SR-20, serial number 2039, manufactured in 2010. It was a single-engine monoplane with composite construction and fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a Continental IO-360-ES engine producing 200 horsepower. The aircraft was maintained under a manufacturer's inspection program; the most recent 50-hour inspection was performed on March 29, 2017, at which time the airframe had accumulated 3,144 total hours.
Meteorological Information
At 2154, the recorded weather at FWA included wind from 100° at 20 knots gusting to 26 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 10,000 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet, temperature 9°C, dew point -1°C, and altimeter setting 30.09 inches of mercury. Earlier reports showed winds from 80° at 18 knots gusting 25 knots at 1954, and from 90° at 19 knots gusting 26 knots at 2054. The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast valid for the accident time expected wind from 070° at 16 knots.
Wreckage and Impact
Examination of the wreckage revealed significant damage to the forward fuselage, with the engine separated and attached only by cables. Both wings were broken; the right wing was broken about midspan with a shattered tip, and the left wing was broken about midspan with a twisted leading edge. The left wing pitot tube showed abrasion indicative of runway contact. The cabin section aft of the firewall to the tail surfaces was intact. The lower rudder fairing exhibited mud staining and crushing consistent with ground contact. No preimpact structural defects were identified. Flight control continuity was confirmed, though crushing caused slack in elevator and rudder cables. Aileron cable continuity was verified; the link between the aileron and actuator was disconnected due to impact damage on both wings. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) was not deployed; the safety pin was in place.
Additional Information
Flight data from the Recoverable Data Module (RDM) showed that at the last recorded data point before impact, the airplane was in a 56° right roll, nose up 12°, indicated airspeed 57 knots, with flaps at 100%. Three seconds earlier, the roll was 17° left wing down, pitch 13° nose up, airspeed 55 knots, flaps 100%, and engine speed above 2,600 rpm. The aerodynamic stall warning activated about 6 seconds before impact. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the stall speed at maximum gross weight with 100% flaps was 59 knots. The landing crosswind component based on reported gusts was about 19.9 knots. The operator's wind limitations for the SR-20 during dual instruction listed a maximum wind of 23 knots for winds 50° from runway heading, including gusts.