Collision during takeoff/land: Cirrus SR22 GTS X G3 Turbo, N858RC, fatal accident occurred on December 26, 2023, at Tailwind Airpark/Thompson Field (1TA7), Canton, Texas

• Location: Canton, Texas 
• Accident Number: CEN24FA073 
• Date & Time: December 26, 2023, 18:13 Local
• Registration: N858RC 
• Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 
• Aircraft Damage: Destroyed 
• Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193570/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193570

On December 26, 2023, about 1813 central standard time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR22, N858RC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Canton, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.

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.

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