Accident Overview
On October 2, 2024, at about 1347 Pacific daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, registered as N752B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal operation under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the airplane was refueled with approximately 75 gallons of 100 low lead aviation gasoline prior to departure from Tulare, California. The low boost pump was on during departure. After climbing to 13,000 feet mean sea level (msl), the pilot turned off the low boost pump. Immediately, the engine began to run rough and misfire. The pilot declared an emergency as the engine started losing power. Attempts to restore power using the high boost pump reduced engine roughness but did not restore full engine power.
Parachute Deployment
At 1,200 feet msl, the pilot identified a potential landing area and pulled the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) handle. The parachute did not deploy on the first attempt. The pilot stated that he likely did not pull the handle with sufficient force; the parachute deployed immediately after he pulled it a second time. The pilot could not recall further details of the accident sequence.
Surveillance Video
Surveillance video captured the final four seconds of the flight. The airplane’s shadow was visible as it crossed a road. In the last two seconds of the video, the airplane and its parachute came into view, showing the aircraft impacting the ground in a nose-low, right-wing-low attitude. The parachute subsequently settled near the main wreckage.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing of the airplane. The aircraft has been retained for further examination.