What happened
On November 11, 2025, at approximately 17:50 CST, a Cirrus SR20, registration N866CD, was involved in an accident near Chesterfield, Missouri. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for a personal flight.
During a night approach to the destination airport, the pilot was descending with the flaps set to 50%. After slowing the aircraft below 100 knots indicated airspeed, the pilot extended the flaps to 100%. The pilot reported hearing a "bang" from the front of the aircraft, followed by an increase in engine RPM. Simultaneously, the aircraft experienced an uncommanded right yaw and roll, making it impossible for the pilot to maintain control.
As the aircraft entered a steep right spiraling descent, the pilot activated the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) and retarded the throttle and mixture levers. The aircraft descended under the canopy and struck trees and terrain in a nose-low attitude. The pilot and copilot sustained 2 minor injuries, and there were 0 fatalities.
The investigation
Post-accident examination showed that the aircraft's empennage separated during the accident sequence. The aircraft came to rest suspended vertically by the parachute and harness, with the propeller embedded in the ground and the left wing resting on the ground.
While the flap switch was positioned to 100%, the flaps were found in a fully retracted position. The flap control system and all associated hardware, from the actuator to the control surfaces, remained intact. Although a large pool of engine oil was found in the engine cowling and the bottom of the aircraft was mostly covered in oil, the engine showed no evidence of catastrophic failure. The aircraft's avionics were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for data extraction.