Cirrus SR-22 | N969SS

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that both the CFI and the left seat pilot receiving instruction did allow the gliding low power approach in a tight turn to continue well below DMMS with the aircraft pitch up considerably, likely in an attempt to make it to the runway. It is possible that the student and instructor were practicing some variation of a power off 180, or a simulated engine failure, with emphasis on making it back to runway 20. Numerous witnesses saw the banking, nose high, low power approach and subsequent stall. The Probable Cause is lack of speed awareness.

Probable Cause issued 1/14/2026 – 10 months after the accident: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude too low for recovery.

The DTSB recommends that all pilot of all aircraft closely monitor speeds and bank angles during this type of training and simulation, and abort early if the outcome becomes in doubt.