A witness reported that after the Cirrus SR20 departed Runway 22 at Conway Regional Airport (KCXW) in Arkansas, he heard a transmission over the UNICOM that stated, “six-two whiskey romeo emergency landing Runway 2.”
There is no Runway 2 at KCXW.
Shortly after, he observed the airplane make a left turn and overfly Runway 4 and stated that the airplane appeared “crazy fast.”
After the airplane overflew the runway, it entered a steep left bank, made 1-1/2 rotations, and then hit the ground. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, died in the crash.
Recovered GPS data from the airplane revealed that the highest altitude achieved on the flight was 593 feet above ground level (agl) when the airplane was on a crosswind leg in the traffic pattern. The airplane then began a continuous descent until impact. The downwind leg was flown about 0.1 nautical mile south of the runway.
The airplane hit the ground in a nose-low, inverted attitude. The right wing was fractured, and pieces of the wing were located in the initial ground scar. Propeller slash marks were found in the ground near the initial impact point and contained white paint transfer signatures. The propeller blades were found fractured and separated from the crankshaft flange.
The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) deployed during the crash, and the canopy was found still bundled in a straight line away from the wreckage. The total debris field from the CAPS rocket to the main wreckage was about 110 feet.
A post-accident examination revealed the pitot tube cover remained secured on the pitot tube with a “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT” banner attached.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to perform an adequate preflight inspection, to include removal of the pitot tube cover.
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This June 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
You should have “feel” for the aircraft you are flying. An inop ASI should not kill you. Maybe a bit different in IMC or Night. Sad that this pilot died. I’ll never forget, witnessing a man with his whole family on board aborted multiple takeoff’s easily reaching 100 mph in a A-36. He comes to my shop (white as a sheet & sweating profusely) saying his a/c won’t reach flying speed. – Blocked pitot tube. Guarantee he was pushing hard to keep it from leaving the runway.
The report noted the max altitude as recorded by GPS. Well all he needed to do is look at GPS ground speed to get a rough idea of airspeed. Unless he was experiencing a normal “calm” Midwest day that is close enough to get you safely on the ground if you add a little extra for wind on approach. This pilot panicked and took a minor operational problem and turned it into a catastrophe. No mention of license type, total time or time in type so difficult to say much about their supposed level of training and experience.
I don’t know if I’d call it “stupid”, but it’s really bothersome that the pilot panicked over the loss of his ASI. He wasn’t the first one to forget a pitot cover—and there are other reasons why a pitot can get plugged, such as bugs or ice. I’ve experienced both. So we all need to know how to fly safely without a working ASI.
Example: After an annual several years ago, I took off with plans to remain in the pattern to make sure that all was working correctly, which is what I told the tower. The ASI came alive as expected, but shortly after rotation, about 200’ AGL, the ASI slowly dropped to zero. I called tower to say I needed to land again, that I’d just lost my ASI. Tower asked if I was declaring an emergency, and I said “no”—because it wasn’t an emergency. At first I thought I could use my AOA indicator, but also had failed. I made a pretty normal landing anyway. My mechanic found that both the pitot and the AOA probe had bug nests in them—when cleaned out, they both worked fine.
I have to say that just because one pilot forgets to remove
the pitot tube cover brands him/her stupid. could have been in a rush
and overlooked some detail Not stupid
I lost the ASI on tow in a glider. It appeared normal crossing the end of the runway. A few moments later it started creeping down. I stayed with the tow until we got to 2500 ft it so, released, flew around for an hour or so, then landed. What made it a non-event was not doing anything rash when I first noticed it creeping down. What sometimes gets people into trouble is doing too much too soon.
Suggest that “Before Start Checklist” include “Pitot Cover…Stowed”.
With the erroneous, in many cases, emphasis for pitching to airspeed, this is not that uncommon. Air France 447 is one example – the icing conditions caused an erroneous high airspeed indication and the co-pilot pitched up to around 35 degrees. A pilot based at my airport in CT was arriving over Long Island apparently not realizing he was in icing conditions, lost airspeed indication, and dove. The airplane came apart.
Operating without airspeed indication is something that should be covered before solo. You never know when something may suddenly plug the pitot tube. The DPE we normally used always covered the airspeed indicator at a couple of critical times (rotation for one) during the flight test. Know and use the pitch and power that maintains safe operation.
Wow. Just WOW!
I honestly can’t think of a general aviation, SEL that any competent pilot can’t fly without an airspeed indication. Another example of too much time spent staring at the glass with zero feel for the craft. Sadly, a very bad ending to a VERY simple problem. Emergency??
It is careless enough to jump into an airplane without having done a minimum outside check and go fly. To lose one’s cool in such a situation is but a recipe for disaster. Had that guy just let his airplane fly straight and had he got a hold of himself I am pretty sure he would have learned a free – but valuable – lesson.
I’m a highly experienced Cirrus pilot and I worked there for 9 years and even before that I knew you can’t take the stupid out of some pilots and I feel for his family and it’s too bad how one simple mistake can have such horrible consequences
Stupid, just stupid.