Cirrus Design Corp SR20 N101AD accident near Churchville, Maryland

Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane ballooning on touchdown, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the attempted landing and subsequent go-around.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot stated that, before departure for a cross-country, personal flight at night in visual conditions, he checked the weather using several online weather resources, which showed that the destination airport was reporting visual meteorological conditions. He reported that, about 30 minutes before the anticipated arrival at the destination airport, it started snowing. He descended the airplane to get out of the snow, but the airplane encountered a temperature inversion, and because snow was accumulating on the wings, the pilot chose to divert to the closest airport. He approached the runway at a higher-than-normal speed, and the airplane ballooned during touchdown and then drifted off the side of the runway. He attempted a go-around, but the airplane could not gain enough airspeed to become airborne, and it subsequently impacted two trucks, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot's improper landing flare resulted in the airplane ballooning upon landing and led to his subsequent loss of directional control.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA18LA098 for the full record.