Accident Overview
On September 27, 2024, about 1010 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR-22, registration N831AZ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Provo, Utah. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight and ATC Communications
Review of Air Traffic Control Tower communication recordings revealed that the controller instructed the pilot to enter the airport traffic pattern on downwind for runway 13. They later advised the pilot that there was an airplane on final approach to the runway and to follow that airplane. Shortly after, the pilot reported that the other airplane was in sight and the controller subsequently approved a base turn at the pilot’s discretion. As the accident airplane crossed the approach end of runway 13, the controller told the pilot to go around and that there was an airplane on the runway. The pilot replied that he was going around and that the other airplane was still on the runway. The controller asked the pilot if he was able to turn right to the downwind leg, to which the pilot replied he was able to do so. The controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 13, to which they acknowledged. No further radio transmissions from the pilot were heard.
Witness and Video Evidence
An airport surveillance video showed the first airplane approach runway 13 and perform a touch and go landing. The accident airplane then came into view and about 50 feet above ground level, entered a climb, and veered to the right before going out of view of the camera. Both airplanes appeared to be about 200 feet from each other. Preliminary ADS-B data showed the accident airplane remained within the airport traffic pattern and turned onto the downwind leg at a ground speed of about 110 knots. The data showed that a few moments later, just before the airplane initiated a right turn to the base leg for runway 13, the ground speed had decreased to about 80 knots. Shortly after the right turn was initiated, the ADS-B data ended over Utah Lake near the accident site. A witness in another airplane reported that they observed the accident airplane “bank sharply then stall” before it “fell into a rapid descent with 3 rotations.” The witness added that he saw the airplane’s parachute start to deploy just prior to the airplane impacting the water.
Wreckage and Recovery
The airplane came to rest submerged in about 9 feet of water about 2 miles northwest of the approach end of runway 13. The airplane was heavily fragmented. All major components of the airplane were recovered from the water with the exception of both flaps, ailerons, and the propeller assembly. The wreckage was relocated to a secure facility for further examination.