Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to attain a proper airspeed during an attempted go-around in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
NTSB analysis
The private pilot reported that he was checking weather conditions every hour during the personal, cross-country flight. While approaching the destination airport, he had to maneuver around convective activity about 10 miles northwest of the airport. While the airplane was on approach and about 4 miles from the airport, the local fix-based operator announced on the UNICOM that the winds were from 170° at 7 knots. The airplane crossed the runway 20 threshold about 85 knots and with full flaps. About 15 ft from touchdown, the airplane began to sink rapidly. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent, but the airplane impacted the runway and bounced, and wind began to push the airplane hard to the left. The pilot then initiated a go-around with full throttle and pulled back on the stick. The airplane climbed to between about 15 and 20 ft above ground level, the stall warning sounded, and the right wing stalled and then dropped. The airplane then struck an embankment off the right side of the runway and rolled onto its right side.
A review of weather information showed that a wind shift occurred about 2 minutes before landing, at which time, the reported winds were from 180° at 12 knots. The pilot reported that he believed that there was wind shear.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN17LA359 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 10, 2017
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Raton, New Mexico
- Nearest airport
- Raton Municipal Airport (RTN)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cirrus Design Corp SR22T
- N-number
- N702N
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2017
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.