What happened
On October 2, 2024, a Cirrus SR22, registration N752B, was involved in an accident near Bakersfield, California. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
After departing Tulare, California, with approximately 75 gallons of 100LL fuel, the pilot climbed to 13,000 feet MSL. The pilot had the low boost pump engaged during the initial climb. Upon turning the low boost pump off, the engine began misfiring and running roughly. The pilot declared an emergency as the engine continued to lose power. Although the pilot attempted to use the high boost pump to stabilize the engine, power could not be restored.
As the aircraft descended to 1,200 feet MSL, the pilot identified a potential landing site and attempted to activate the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The pilot reported that the parachute did not deploy on the first attempt because the activation handle was not pulled with sufficient force; the parachute deployed following a second pull.
Surveillance video of the event showed the aircraft's shadow crossing a road, followed by the aircraft and parachute entering the frame. The video captured the aircraft impacting the ground in a nose-low and right-wing-low attitude. The accident resulted in one serious injury to the pilot, with no fatalities.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The aircraft has been retained for further examination.