THE DTSB
Pending. Likely stall spin on departure from runway 18, climbing left turn and simultaneous flap retraction. Wreckage was found with flaps retracted. Likely flight below DMMS and loss of speed awareness.
U-FITAQP: 12) LOSS OF SPEED AWARENESS
Cirrus SR20 | N858SD
- DTSB analysis published
Key facts
- DateJune 11, 2026
- Local time10:45 AM
- LightDay
- WeatherVMC
- Phase of flightInitial Climb
- People on board1
- Fatalities1
- AirportKPMH
- NTSB numberCEN26FA222
- NTSB statusUnder investigation
Accident Location
- City, State
- Wheelersburg, Ohio
- Latitude
- 38.832169
- Longitude
- -82.842175
- Airport ID
- KPMH
Aircraft Info
- N Number
- N858SD
- Make
- Cirrus
- Model
- SR20
- Category / Class
- Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built
- No
Pilot Info
- Pilot in command
- Paulus, Kurt William
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 76
- Certification
- Private Pilot
- IFR rating
- Yes
- Medical
- Basic Med
- Flight school
- No
- Instructional flight
- No
Analysis
- Weather
- VMC
- Time of day
- Day
- Phase of flight
- Initial Climb
- Pilot error
- Yes
- Pilot incapacitation
- No
- People on board
- 1
- PIC fatality
- 1
- Total fatalities
- 1
- NTSB number
- CEN26FA222
- NTSB travel
- Yes
- AQP category
- 12) LOSS OF SPEED AWARENESS →
Probable Cause
NTSB
None yet (final report not yet published).
Recommendation
THE DTSB
Pending
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →