Pilot of Cirrus SR-22 Plane Killed During Crash in Parking Lot

**kellyhound** · #1 ● 02-13-2011, 03:58 PM

On the morning of August 4, 2010, at approximately 0604 mountain standard time, a tragic incident occurred involving a Cirrus SR-22 aircraft, bearing registration N146CK, near Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT) in Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft sustained significant damage when it impacted terrain close to a building while in the final stages of its approach to the airport.

The aircraft was owned by Magneto Investments LLC, located in Phoenix, and was being operated by the pilot under the regulations of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Sadly, the sole occupant, a commercial pilot, lost their life in the accident.

At the time of the incident, weather conditions were conducive to visual flight, and no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight. The aircraft had departed just minutes prior to the accident, with its intended destination set for Tennessee.

An eyewitness, a pilot-rated individual positioned south of DVT, provided an account of the events leading up to the crash. While traveling westbound on Deer Valley Road, the witness observed the aircraft departing runway 07 to the east. Subsequently, the aircraft initiated a left turn, entering a left downwind leg for the same runway, climbing to an estimated altitude of approximately 500 feet above ground level (AGL). The witness momentarily lost sight of the aircraft but reestablished visual contact as it maneuvered into a base leg for runway 07.

The eyewitness noted that the aircraft appeared to be flying at a reduced speed as it commenced a left turn for its final approach to the runway. During this turn, the aircraft's left wing stalled, leading to an entry into a left spin. The witness estimated that the aircraft completed approximately a quarter-turn spin before disappearing from view behind nearby buildings. Shortly after losing sight of the aircraft, the witness witnessed a plume of smoke and fire emanating from the vicinity where visual contact with the aircraft had been lost.

Initial examination of recorded air traffic control tower radio communications revealed that the pilot had received clearance to take off from runway 07L. Approximately 34 seconds later, the pilot radioed the tower controller, indicating the need to return due to a door issue. The controller subsequently cleared the pilot for a landing on runway 07L and offered assistance, which the pilot declined. Tragically, there were no further radio transmissions from the pilot.

Upon inspection of the accident site by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), it was discovered that the aircraft had impacted a parking lot adjacent to a building, approximately half a mile west of runway 07L. All major structural components of the aircraft, including both cabin doors, were found at the accident site. Wreckage debris was contained within a roughly 100-foot radius around the primary wreckage location. The fuselage, wings, engine, and empennage had suffered extensive fire damage.