Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor reported that while performing a soft-field takeoff, the airplane briefly lifted off the runway and subsequently bounced. The flight instructor directed the student pilot to pitch down as he applied forward pressure on the yoke. The airplane remained in a nose high attitude and yawed to the left. The flight instructor verbalized “my controls” as the airplane then turned to the right and the pitch increased. The airplane came to rest upright on the edge of the runway. The landing gear collapsed upon impact with the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount and firewall.
The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA159 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 13, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Chesterfield, Missouri
- Nearest airport
- Spirit Of St Louis (SUS)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cirrus Design Corp SR20
- N-number
- N594M
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2020
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.