What happened
On December 16, 2021, a Cirrus SR22, registration N162AM, was involved in an accident near McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee. The aircraft was operating under Part 91 as a personal flight. During the flight, the pilot was performing practice approaches and was instructed by air traffic control to follow an Airbus A320 on final approach for Runway 23L.
While established on final approach, the aircraft encountered wake turbulence. The pilot reported feeling a bump, followed by an extreme left roll of approximately 135 degrees in less than one second. The pilot applied corrective inputs and commanded the passenger to deploy the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The parachute deployed, but the aircraft impacted the ground shortly thereafter. A post-impact fire occurred, and while the pilot was able to evacuate, the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector determined the aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. A review of the flight data from the cockpit primary flight display showed no engine anomalies prior to the accident.
Investigators also reviewed Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications. While the pilot had visual contact with the preceding Airbus, the investigation focused on the lack of a specific advisory from the tower. ATC records confirmed that the pilot was cleared to land behind the larger aircraft, but no wake turbulence cautionary advisory was issued by the controller.