Cirrus Design Corp SR22 N858RC accident near Canton, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain the runway while landing at night, which resulted in an impact with trees.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was attempting a night visual approach to a private airport that had solar deck lights as runway lights. A witness heard the pilot make radio transmissions for the downwind, base, and final approach legs of the traffic pattern before the airplane impacted trees and terrain east of the runway. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces.

Non-volatile data from the airplane showed the approach was approximately parallel to and about 340 ft east of the runway before the tree line, which the airplane struck. The data showed the airplane had minimal altimetry error. The data also showed that the engine operated with no anomalies throughout the approach and impact with terrain.

Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity, as well as rotational and torsional features on the propeller blades and spinner consistent with engine operation.

An autopsy was not performed on the pilot, so an incapacitating medical event could not be ruled out.

It is likely that pilot performed an inadequate visual approach at night that resulted in a collision with terrain. Based on the available evidence, it was undetermined why the pilot performed an inadequate visual approach.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24FA073 for the full record.