History of Flight
On November 22, 2023, at 1646 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR22T, registration N17DT, crashed near Fairland, Indiana. The accident occurred during an instructional flight conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The aircraft was destroyed, and both the flight instructor and private pilot on board were fatally injured.
The airplane had been purchased by the pilot on November 13, 2023, while based at Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU), South Carolina. The pilot hired the flight instructor to move the aircraft to Monroe County Airport (BMG), Bloomington, Indiana, on November 19. The pilot planned to fly with the instructor on November 20, 21, and 22 to meet insurance requirements and gain familiarity.
On the day of the accident, the flight departed BMG at 1605 and proceeded to Shelbyville Municipal Airport (GEZ), Indiana. Tracking data showed multiple overhead passes near GEZ, with two track segments parallel to and over runway 1 at altitudes near 800 ft msl. One of these tracks ended near the accident site. No witness reports or radio transmissions were received regarding the plane's arrival at GEZ.
A witness driving eastbound on I-74 observed the airplane to her left, flying southbound over a field at an estimated altitude of 200 ft above ground level (AGL). The witness stated the airplane appeared very low and seemed stalled or hovering. As it approached her position, the airplane made a sharp left turn, then lost control. The left wing dipped, and the airplane became fully sideways with wings vertical. It then rotated right and left again before leveling out extremely low. The airplane disappeared behind trees at an estimated 50–100 ft AGL, and a fireball with thick black smoke appeared a second or two later.
Personnel Information
FAA records showed the pilot had received a Notice of Disapproval for a private pilot certificate on October 31, 2023, after failing the practical exam. He passed on his second attempt on November 2, 2023, using a Cirrus SR20. At the time, his flight times included 81.4 hours total, with 72 hours of instruction and 9.4 hours solo. No logbooks were obtained from the pilot's estate.
The flight instructor passed his initial certification exam on November 3, 2020, using a Cirrus SR22T. His last renewal was on December 16, 2022. At that time, his recorded flight times included 2,266.50 hours total airplane time, 652.10 hours of instruction given, 2,050.40 hours in single-engine airplanes, and 137.30 hours in rotorcraft. No logbooks were obtained from the instructor's estate.
It is unknown which pilot was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident.
Aircraft Information
The Cirrus SR22T's normal operating range (green arc) was 74 to 176 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), with the lower limit representing the maximum weight stall speed at the most forward center of gravity with flaps retracted. Normal takeoff procedures call for 50% flaps.
No airplane logbooks were provided by the pilot's estate; however, previously made copies were supplied by the aircraft sales company owner.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was in a fallow corn field accessible by vehicle. The main wreckage, consisting of the fuselage, wings, empennage, and engine, was oriented on a southwesterly heading. A ground scar showed impressions of the left and right wing leading edges with a nose impression containing propeller blades. Propeller slash marks were found near the outer right wing impression. The propeller blades exhibited chordwise scratches indicating rotation at impact. Disassembly of the propeller hub revealed marks consistent with a low pitch position.
Postaccident examination of the flight control system confirmed continuity. The wing flap jack screw extension indicated fully retracted flaps. The aileron trim was neutral; the elevator motor extension could not be determined due to damage. Engine examination revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded operation.
Communications
No recorded voice transmissions or air traffic control services were provided at the time of the accident.
Flight Recorder Data
The aircraft was equipped with a recoverable data module (RDM) that logged flight data. Despite severe fire damage, the last two hours of data were successfully downloaded. The data showed no elevator mis-trim and the stall warning system was not recorded as failed.
Prior to 1645:33, engine power decreased to about 15%, engine speed to about 1,750 rpm, and airspeed decayed through 79 KIAS at approximately 1,650 ft msl. From 1645:33 to the end of recorded data at about 1646:33, the stall warning activated eight times, remaining active for the last six seconds. After the first stall warning, engine parameters increased with positive correlation. Wing flaps remained at 0% extension throughout.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the student pilot, conducted by a private forensic pathologist at the request of the Shelby County Coroner's Office, listed the cause of death as multiple injuries and the manner as accident.
Toxicological testing detected delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC) in heart blood at 2.1 ng/mL, urine at 0.6 ng/mL, brain tissue at 2.2 ng/g, and lung tissue at 1.1 ng/g. Carboxy-delta-8-THC was found in heart blood (87.3 ng/mL), urine (538.9 ng/mL), brain tissue (62.7 ng/g), and lung tissue (82.2 ng/g). Low levels of carboxy-delta-9-THC were detected in heart blood and lung tissue, with 4.8 ng/mL in urine; brain tissue testing was inconclusive. 11-hydroxy-THC was found in heart blood, lung tissue, and brain tissue, but urine testing was inconclusive. Delta-9-THC itself was not detected.
Delta-8-THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid similar to delta-9-THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. It can impair motor coordination, reaction time, decision making, problem solving, and vigilance. Title 14 CFR Part 91.17 prohibits acting as a crewmember while using any drug that affects faculties contrary to safety.
The flight instructor's autopsy also listed cause of death as multiple injuries and manner as accident.