Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

October 17, 2015 · Cirrus Design SR22 · N849CD

Lancaster, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 17, 2015
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Lancaster, TX
Aircraft
Cirrus Design SR22 (2002)
Tail Number
N849CD
Operator
Ataee Mahmood
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CEN16LA016

The private pilot reported that he was flying a night visual pattern to a nontowered airport. Due to another airplane on final approach, the pilot extended the downwind leg to create spacing. While on the extended final in a rural area with low lighting, the pilot descended the airplane well below a proper glidepath to the runway and struck an unlit high-voltage power line located about 1 mile from the runway. After feeling a jolt, the passenger deployed the airframe's parachute system. The airplane subsequently became suspended in a second set of power lines, and the pilot and passenger safely egressed the airplane. At the time of the accident, the precision approach path indicators (PAPI) for both runways were inoperative due to maintenance. A notice to airmen (NOTAM) for the PAPI closure was active at the time of the accident, and the pilot was aware of the NOTAM. The dark conditions and extended final likely created a visual illusion in which the pilot thought he was higher than he was; without an operative PAPI, the pilot had limited external references to assist him in maintaining a proper glidepath during the approach.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath during a night visual approach, which resulted in impact with a power line. Contributing to the accident was an inoperative precision approach path indicator.

Full Narrative

On October 16, 2015, about 1940 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N849CD, was destroyed after striking a power line during approach to the Lancaster Regional Airport (LNC), Lancaster, Texas. The pilot was not injured and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed without a flight plan from the Mid-Way Regional Airport (JWY), Midlothian, Texas about 1850. The pilot stated he was practicing a 'no flap' visual approach to Runway 31 at LNC and extended his downwind leg to create spacing from an aircraft that was on final approach. As the pilot flew toward Runway 31 on final approach, the airplane struck the upper static line of a set of unlit high voltage power lines, located about one mile prior to the threshold of Runway 31. After feeling a jolt, the passenger deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The airplane continued northwest about 200 feet and impacted a second set of high voltage power lines. The airplane and CAPS became entangled in the second set of power lines and the airplane came to rest suspended by the parachute, with the nose about three feet above the ground. The pilot and passenger exited through the pilot's side door and jumped to the ground. The airplane was subsequently consumed by a post-crash fire. The pilot's final approach to Runway 31 was over a rural area with low cultural lighting. At the time of the accident, the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) for both runways was inoperative due to maintenance. The PAPI is a visual aid that provides glideslope information to help a pilot acquire and maintain the correct glide path to a runway. A Notice to Airman (NOTAM) concerning the inoperative PAPI was active, which the pilot stated he was aware of. The airport manager and Texas Department of Transportation personnel reviewed obstacle clearance information for LNC. The closest tower to the power line struck was 592 feet msl, which was 105 feet above the touchdown zone elevation for Runway 31. This tower and other power lines/obstacles in the vicinity of LNC were below the 34:1 obstacle clearance plane required for a non-precision runway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:40 CDT
Nearest AirportLancaster Rgnl (1nm SE)
Runway31
Runway Length6502 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCirrus Design SR22
Tail NumberN849CD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAtaee Mahmood
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · IO-550 SERIES · Reciprocating · 310
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind50° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C
Altimeter30.22 inHg
Observation Time00:39
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data