Cirrus SR20 N8157J

Summary

On 19 April 2004 at about 18:00 local time, a Cirrus SR20 registered N8157J, operated by Aero Atlanta Flight Center, was involved in an accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 April 2004 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenwood, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Greenwood County (GRD)

Coordinates

34.2472, -82.1764

Aircraft

Cirrus SR20

Registration

N8157J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Aero Atlanta Flight Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greenwood → Marietta

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04FA096

4 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb that resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent collision with trees. A factor was the inadequate preflight planning/preparation when he failed to lower the wing flaps.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was observed by a witness taxing to the active 5000-foot-long runway and depart without an engine run-up. The witness also reported that the wing flaps were in the retracted position. Another witness described the takeoff roll as long and that the airplane remained about 10 to 15 feet above the runway as it approached the departure end of the runway. The witness reported that as the airplane approached the end of the runway the airplane suddenly pitched up at a steep angle to an altitude of about 300-400 feet. The airplane then slowed and appeared to experience a stall rotating about 175-degrees on its vertical axis to the left. About half way down from the 175-degree rotation point observed a slight pitch up of nose, and then airplane entered a near vertical dive to the left. The airplane disappeared from view behind a tree line and two consecutive loud bangs were heard followed by fire ball and black smoke. Examination of the crash site revealed the flap jack screw was found in the up position. According to the pilot operating handbook, the normal procedure for takeoff is for flaps to be extended to 50 percent. The takeoff ground distance, based on performance data, is 1776 feet. No anomalies were noted with the airframe, flight controls, or engine assembly during the post accident examination of the wreckage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.