On Saturday, September 28, a lightweight single-engine aircraft crashed as it was approaching an airport in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The aircraft crashed as it was approaching Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport (FFA) in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The aircraft crashed into a wooded area before it was able to land, before catching fire upon impact. All five passengers, including four adults and one child, were confirmed dead at the scene of the incident.
Resulting plane crash
At approximately 17:15 local time, a
Cirrus SR22
single-engine aircraft crashed into a forest before runway 21 at Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport (FFA). According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft had previously attempted to land at the same runway before initiating a go-around. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft departed from Manteo Dare County Regional Airport (MEO) in Dare County, North Carolina, at approximately 17:10 local time. It was scheduled to fly to the nearby Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport and land at the airport at approximately 17:20 local time. The airports are just over seven miles away from each other in a straight line.
Photo: Nadezda Murmakova | Shutterstock
However, according to Flightradar24, the pilot initiated a go-around after the aircraft’s first attempt at landing. The aircraft circled around the airport once again, and at approximately 17:18 local time, the aircraft crashed into a wooded area just short of runway 21 at First Flight Airport (FFA). The Cirrus SR22 crashed into several trees before catching on fire. The Kill Devil Hills Fire Department responded to the fire quickly and extinguished it before it could spread through the forest. However, the National Park Service, which manages the airport, confirmed that all five passengers were found deceased at the scene of the crash. The National Park Service also confirmed that the airport would be shut down on Sunday, September 29. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have confirmed that the incident is under further investigation.
The involved Cirrus SR22
According to FlightAware, the Cirrus SR22 that crashed was registered as N1281F. This specific aircraft was first built in 2023 and has the serial number 9379. The aircraft was registered with Pantheon Aviation LLC, which is based in Franklin, North Carolina, a small town in western North Carolina. Pantheon Aviation LLC has been registered as the owner of the aircraft since March 22, 2024.
The Cirrus SR22 is one of the most popular single-engine aircraft ever made and the most-produced general aviation aircraft of the 21st century. Cirrus developed the utility aircraft from its successful SR20 model with significant upgrades. It was first introduced in 2001, and nearly 8,000 have been manufactured.
Overall, the Cirrus SR22 has the following performance specifications:
|
Maximum capacity |
Four passengers and one pilot |
|---|---|
|
Length |
26 feet |
|
Height |
Eight feet eleven inches |
|
Wingspan |
38 feet four inches |
|
Gross weight |
3,600 pounds |
|
Cruise speed |
183 knots (211 miles per hour) |
|
Range |
1,050 nautical miles (1,207 miles) |
|
Service ceiling |
17,500 feet |