Sunday, August 16, 2020

Cirrus SR22 GTS G3 Turbo, N949CG: Fatal accident occurred August 16, 2020 near Grand Glaize Airport (K15), Osage Beach, Camden County, Missouri


This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.


Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Kansas City, Missouri

https://registry.faa.gov/N949CG

Location: Osage Beach, MO
Accident Number: CEN20LA336
Date & Time: 08/16/2020, 1320 CDT
Registration: N949CG
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22
Injuries:2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On August 16, 2020, about 1320 central daylight time (CDT), a Cirrus SR22, N949CG, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Osage Beach, Missouri. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

Witnesses observed the flight preparing to depart Grand Glaize-Osage Beach Airport (K15), Missouri, for a cross country flight. The pilot was observed "flooding the engine" during startup to the point fuel was observed coming out of the engine cowling and down the nose wheel. Black smoke was seen coming out of the engine compartment after the engine started and before the airplane taxied. The flight was seen conducting a run up prior to takeoff. Black smoke was seen coming from the left side of the engine compartment during takeoff and several witnesses said the engine did not sound normal. The pilot reported on the CTAF frequency that he was returning to the airport. The airplane was seen to enter a left turn back to the airport at about 100 ft above the trees and then descend steeply into the ground. The airplane wreckage was mostly consumed by post-impact fire. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information


Aircraft Make: Cirrus
Registration: N949CG
Model/Series: SR22 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Osage Beach, MO (K15)
Destination: Fairfield, IA (FFL)

Wreckage and Impact Information


Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: Unknown
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.106944, -92.672500 (est)

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.

Scott Lowe

Amy Lowe





























MT. PLEASANT — Whether it was saving the town’s movie theater or creating new housing units downtown, Scott and Amy Lowe always kept the Mt. Pleasant community’s best interest in mind.

“When I think of Scott and Amy, they’re the epitome of Mt. Pleasant people — incredibly kind and good to work with,” Kristi Perry, executive director of the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, said.

The Lowes were killed Sunday afternoon when their small plane crashed and exploded near Grand Glaize Airport in central Missouri. The couple were the only people on board the plane when it crashed and no other injuries were reported, according to a news release from the City of Osage Beach.

The Lowes were in the southern state to celebrate a 55th wedding anniversary with Scott’s parents, Tom and Betty.

Perry worked closely with the Lowes when the couple owned Main Street Cinemas, now the Temple Theatre. The couple were finalists for the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year award in 2015.

“They were true family people as well. A lot of Mt. Pleasant people will miss them,” Perry added.

Lisa Oetken, director of Main Street, said the couple were “great community members,” and “did a lot for downtown.”

One of their biggest contributions included buying and renovating the town’s theater, which the Lowes purchased in late-2011, according to Oetken. The couple later sold the theater to Eisentraut Theatres in the summer of 2019.

“If they hadn’t purchased and saved the theater for us, we would have lost it. They remodeled the whole building and created the loft apartments above it,” Oetken said. In total, the couple added 11 new upper story housing units to the town.

The Lowes also purchased and renovated a building on the west side of the square where antique store The Vintage Raven now sits.

Sam Riepe, co-owner of the store and Scott’s high school classmate in Mt. Pleasant Community High School’s Class of 1989, said the couple were instrumental in helping the business navigate and stay afloat during the pandemic.

“They were great landlords for us, in particular with everything going on. They were really helpful and supportive,” Riepe said.

Riepe recalled ways the couple tried to give back to the community, including running kids movies at reduced prices when they owned the theater.

“It’s really heartbreaking. Scott was an avid pilot. I don’t know if he owned his own plane, but he told me how much he enjoyed flying. He had a job where he had to fly a lot and he enjoyed being able to do it himself,” Riepe added. At the time of their deaths, Scott worked as the senior vice president of sales at Dansons and Amy was the executive vice president of Packers Sanitation Services.

A witness reported seeing the plane crash and explode in a wooded area, according to KMIZ TV in Columbia, Mo.

“This plane was kind of acting odd, and then all the sudden it just kinda went up and rolled over then went straight down, then I took off running down there,” Alan Blair told the TV station.

He said he saw an explosion before he could get to the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have taken over the investigation.

Jen Schwartz, a family friend of the Lowes, remembers being included in the family at a time when her home life was not especially good.

Schwartz said she was “taken under [Tom Lowe’s] wing” as a high schooler when Tom served as the Mt. Pleasant Community High School principal. She added that his children, including Scott, were “just as sweet to her.”

When Schwartz’s daughter was looking for her first apartment, Scott and Amy would become her first landlords.

“I was nervous even though I live in New London, and she would be here [in town]. They told me ‘Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her,’” Schwartz said.

“I’m going to miss seeing them walk around, asking me ‘How are the kids?’ We all spent time with them,” she said.

https://www.southeastiowaunion.com


CAMDEN COUNTY, Missouri (KY3) - Two people have died from an afternoon plane crash near the Grand Glaize Airport in Osage Beach.

The victims have been identified as Scott and Amy Lowe of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, according to a news release from the city of Osage Beach.

The plane crashed around 1:30 p.m. near Sleepy Hollow Road.

Local police secured the area until the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board can investigate. Deputy Chief Steve Lucas with the Osage Beach Fire District tells us that the investigation could take awhile because of where the plane crashed.

“It’s in a wooded, very steep hilly area, not easily accessible,” said Lucas. “There’s a lot of destruction to the plane. From what we can tell we found remnants of two individuals. At this time the identities are not known. The registration of the aircraft is unknown at this time, it burned up quite a bit.”

It’s unknown how long the recovery efforts will take once the location is deemed safe for crews to access the area. Officers are still on scene awaiting the arrival of the National Transportation Safety Board.


The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will take over the investigation upon arrival. The Osage Beach Police Department, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Highway Patrol and other local authorities assisted with the investigation.

https://www.ky3.com

OSAGE BEACH, Missouri — Two people were killed when the airplane they were flying in crashed near Grand Glaize Airport in Osage Beach, Missouri, Sunday.

A news release from the city of Osage Beach said police officers were called out to the airport at around 1:35 p.m. for a report of a crash. When they arrived, they found the plane crashed in the area of Sleepy Hollow Road, less than a mile from the small airport.

Police said both of the people inside the plane at the time of the crash were killed. They were identified as Scott and Amy Lowe of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.


The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were called to the scene. They will take over the investigation.

https://www.ksdk.com

OSAGE BEACH — A plane crash killed two people near the Grand Glaize Airport Sunday in Osage Beach.

According to a press release, Osage Beach Police Department responded to the crash site near Sleepy Hollow Road around 1:37.

Officials said the single-engine plane went down in a wooded area.

There were 2 people onboard when it crashed.

The two inside the plane were identified as Scott and Amy Lowe of Mt Pleasant, Iowa.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.  

The Osage Beach Police Department was assisted by the Osage Beach Ambulance Service, Osage Beach Fire Protection District, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Camden County Sheriff’s Office.

https://krcgtv.com

OSAGE BEACH, Missouri — Two people died in a plane crash in Osage Beach during the afternoon hours of Sunday, August 16th.

Osage Beach officials released a statement saying the crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. near Sleepy Hollow Road.

The two people onboard the plane both died. Officials identified them as Scott and Amy Lowe of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

According to Osage Beach officials, officers are currently awaiting the arrival of the National Transportation Safety Board.

There is no word yet on what caused the crash.

This crash is currently an ongoing investigation.




OSAGE BEACH, Missouri - Authorities are investigating a plane crash in Osage Beach.

According to a press release, the Osage Beach Police Department received calls of a plane crash at Grand Glaize Airport around 1:30 p.m.

Police found the site of the crash near Sleepy Hollow Road.

Police say two people were onboard the plane at the time of the crash, and both were killed. They have identified the victims as Scott and Amy Lowe of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Emergency services were still at the scene investigating as of 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Osage Beach Police Department was assisted by the Osage Beach Ambulance Service, Osage Beach Fire Protection District, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Camden County Sheriff’s Office.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been contacted and will take over the scene and investigation.

The crash happened in a wooded area near residential areas. Alan Blair lives right next to the woods where the plane crashed and saw it going down while mowing his lawn.

"This plane was kind of acting odd, and then all the sudden it just kinda went up and rolled over then went straight down, then I took off running down there," Blair said.

He said he saw an explosion before he could get down to the plane.

"I made one circle around the plane and then a bigger one just trying, hoping someone got thrown clear, but that just wasn't meant to happen," Blair said.

When he called the authorities, he said the line was tied up so he figured plenty of people had also called in the crash. He said the fire and rescue team and police showed up about 10 minutes later.

"There was nothing I could do. I just backed off and waited for someone to get there just to see if they needed anything," Blair said. "It was obvious there wasn't going to be any survivors from that, from what I saw."

Blair mentioned how heartbroken he feels for the families of the two people who lost their lives in the crash.

Police on the scene could not provide any additional information. Officers did not allow reporters near the site of the crash, saying it was on private property.

https://www.abc17news.com



33 comments:

  1. Pilot:
    SCOTT THOMAS LOWE
    Medical Class: Second Medical Date: 7/2019
    Certificate: COMMERCIAL PILOT
    Date of Issue: 4/19/2019
    Ratings:
    COMMERCIAL PILOT
    AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
    INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE

    ReplyDelete
  2. 2014 Cirrus SR22T N898RC was owned by an LLC registered to the pilot. The aircraft in the AIN is registered to a different company owned by someone else. Perhaps the accident pilot borrowed the aircraft that went down? The accident aircraft was an older-model normally aspirated 2007 SR22 G3. The aircraft owned by the pilot, not apparently involved in the accident, was a much newer turbocharged SR22 G5 model. The aircraft are different in significant ways, which of course may have nothing to do with the cause of the accident.

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    Replies
    1. The full picture includes:

      -Accident pilot's Saja Aviation LLC currently owns N898RC. That certificate was issued 6/30/2020. A number change to N319PW was approved on 08/03/2020, so the aircraft may have been at a shop undergoing paint redesignation of the N number at the time of the accident.

      -Accident pilot's Saja Aviation LLC previously owned N727PW, but under the tail number N670CD. It is a 2004 SR22 s/n 1196. Saja certificate was issued 6/23/2017, current owner certificate was issued 6/30/2020.

      -The accident aircraft N949CG is registered to a pilot/orthodontist's office, easy to look up registration address, find the office and correlate his last name. He could have loaned it or the aircraft could be under an operators lease agreement and available to rent.

      -Experience factor: The accident pilot owned his own normally aspirated 2004 SR22 for almost three years, so there is no reason to suggest unfamiliarity while he was piloting N949CG, a normally aspirated 2007 SR22.

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    2. N949CG is actually not a normally aspirated CIRRUS. It is a G-3 Turbo.
      What that has to with the crash is irrelevant with no D/A considerations and only two onboard.
      Ck out the photos
      https://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N949CG
      https://flightaware.com/photos/view/29032-dced2e390dd901a11713a9118fea1164add3690c

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    3. Photo with tail marking cleared up misinterpretation of various SR22, SR22T, IO-550, TSIO-550 designations in registry records. Thanks.

      Delete

  3. ACTIVITY LOG for N949CG dating back to 1998? Buy now. Get it within one hour.
    Date Aircraft Origin Destination Departure Arrival Duration
    11-Aug-2020 S22T Fairfield Muni (KFFL) Grand Glaize-Osage Beach (K15) 18:32 CDT 19:39 CDT 1:06
    02-Aug-2020 S22T Grand Glaize-Osage Beach (K15) Fairfield Muni (KFFL) 09:53 CDT 11:02 CDT 1:08
    28-Jul-2020 S22T Ames Muni (KAMW) Grand Glaize-Osage Beach (K15) 16:40 CDT 18:04 CDT 1:23
    27-Jul-2020 SR22 Lubbock Executive Airpark (F82) Ames Muni (KAMW) 10:57 CDT 14:58 CDT 4:00
    27-Jul-2020 SR22 Lubbock Executive Airpark (F82) Hays Rgnl (KHYS) 10:57 CDT Diverted
    24-Jul-2020 SR22 Kingman Airport - Clyde Cessna Field (9K8) Lubbock Executive Airpark (F82) 14:07 CDT 16:05 CDT 1:58
    24-Jul-2020 SR22 Ames Muni (KAMW) Kingman Airport - Clyde Cessna Field (9K8) 11:01 CDT 13:12 CDT 2:10
    07-Jul-2020 SR22 Brainerd Lakes Rgnl (KBRD) Ames Muni (KAMW) 12:25 CDT 14:04 CDT 1:38
    01-Jul-2020 SR22 Ames Muni (KAMW) Brainerd Lakes Rgnl (KBRD) 10:55 CDT 12:33 CDT 1:37

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  4. Crashed on takeoff very close to the end of the runway, too low to deploy.

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    1. "Near sleepy hollow road". All of the area near sleepy hollow road is very close to the end of the runway. Not much distance/time to reach minimum altitude required for a chute deployment attempt.

      https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sleepy+Hollow,+Osage+Beach,+MO+65065/@38.1055884,-92.6755742,601m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87c4db3a18c03c7f:0x8869ede87c7e613e!8m2!3d38.1055884!4d-92.6733855

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  5. Media should never be allowed into a fatal accident site until it has been secured by either NTSB or FAA and Coroner. Let the vultures circle outside.... they will make something up anyway !!

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  6. It's sad. Two people who were loved and will be missed by others has died in this fatal aircraft accident. I'm sorry for the lost and will pray for their family and friends.

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  7. Preliminary report is illuminating. Witness observations of black smoke during takeoff will be useful to investigators. Over-priming can explain black smoke seen during engine start, but the report of fuel observed coming out of the engine cowling and down the nose wheel is very odd if true.

    If someone was close enough to visually observe raw fuel running out of the cowling, some effort should have been made to get the pilot's attention visually or by use of CTAF.

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    Replies
    1. I saw this the report on the the day it happened but did not see the information about the engine issue until today.
      I fly the identical bird, in fact mine is only 30 serial numbers newer.
      I would be interested in knowing if the start was a hot or cold start.
      These big Conti's normally start very easy cold. One or two blades go by on mine and it is running.
      Hot starts are another matter however. These things are super persnickety to light hot. There are pages on the forums about this issue. All kinds of recommendations. I dreaded hot starts and in fact would leave my aircraft running because I was worried about getting it lit for the first year and 200 hours of flying.
      I have a technique nailed now and I have about a 98% success rate.
      I will say though one of the techniques that I had to resort to before getting some expert advise was to flood the damn thing. (At times I noticed blue staining on the belly and the front wheel pant from the fuel leaking out of the exhaust)
      After flooding I would pull mixture to off, open throttle crank unit it lit quickly push mixture, pull throttle and put fuel pump on.
      Wondering if it was possible he had the same issue and somehow left the pump on high prime and loaded up the engine with fuel.
      Terrible to see an aircraft take off when there was a noticeable problem on the ground. RIP

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    2. If you haven't already informed them, you should email Cirrus your exact words stated above including this accident page url.

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    3. You cannot leave the pump in “high prime”. It requires an active depression of the rocker switch to high prime the engine. You can, and do, leave ‘boost” on during startup. That is the electrical fuel pump, backup to the mechanical fuel pump. And yes, if you sit there with the boost pump left on you will eventually flood the engine and start dumping fuel overboard. If you have your headphones on during the startup you might not hear the pump running. It is good practice to keep on side of the headset off an ear while starting up, especially since Bose headsets are noise cancelling, designed intentionally to counteract constant frequencies.

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    4. CHECKLISTS,CHECKLISTS,CHECKLISTS,CHECLISTS

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    5. Rich Weill, you are absolutely wrong on that one. The high boost can be turned on and left on. It is a simple 3 way switch, low boost forward, off in the middle and high boost rearward. I know this because on very hot days with the identical aircraft I use high boost to keep the CHT down when climbing. It makes a difference of about 20 to 25 degrees having it on high boost on a 100 degree day climbing out of Good Year for example where my daughter lives. I stand by my earlier comment that I would wager he left it on high boost thus the black exhaust smoke and rough running.

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    6. Rich Weill, you are absolutely wrong on that one. The high boost can be turned on and left on. It is a simple 3 way switch, low boost forward, off in the middle and high boost rearward. I know this because on very hot days with the identical aircraft I use high boost to keep the CHT down when climbing. It makes a difference of about 20 to 25 degrees having it on high boost on a 100 degree day climbing out of Good Year for example where my daughter lives. I stand by my earlier comment that I would wager he left it on high boost thus the black exhaust smoke and rough running.

      Delete
  8. While the NTSB preliminary report is critical of both pilot and Cirrus, it offers valuable insights into how we can improve ... let's work together to further enhance our safety processes.

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    Replies
    1. I just read the report again. I do not see a mention of Cirrus in the report other than the report of the flooding, black smoke. Is there another report I am missing?

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    2. discussed in http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2019/11/fuel-related-cirrus-sr22t-n707df-fatal_10.html including comments!

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    3. N707DF Examination of the engine revealed signatures consistent with an excessively rich fuel/air mixture. The fuel manifold and engine-driven fuel pump were removed from the engine and installed onto a slave engine for a test run, during which the slave engine began to surge when the power was increased to 2,300 rpm; the fuel pressure indicated 234 psi (about 39 gph); a nominal value was 210-220 psi. The engine-driven fuel pump adjustment screw was adjusted in the lean direction, and the engine operated within normal parameters; however, when the test cell fuel boost pump was turned on, the engine lost total power.

      The airplane was equipped with an electric fuel boost pump that could be manually activated by the pilot via a cockpit switch. The pump had two modes; the BOOST position supplied an additional 4-6 psig at 19 gph to the engine and was used for vapor suppression when required and during takeoff, climb, landing, and when switching fuel tanks. The HIGH BOOST/PRIME position provided a capacity of 42 gph at 16 psig with a maximum full relief (no flow) pressure of 23 psig to the engine, and was used for priming the engine before start and suppressing vapor formation at flight altitudes above 18,000 ft with hot fuel.

      It is likely that the excess fuel being delivered to the engine during the initial climb resulted in the total loss of power; however, the reason for the excessive fuel flow values could not be determined. According to the manufacturer, the initial fuel flow adjustments occurred at the factory about 4 months before the accident and before the pilot took delivery of the airplane. There were no maintenance logbook entries to indicate that the fuel flow had been adjusted since that time. The data did not indicate a gradual increase in fuel flow values over time; therefore, it is unlikely that the engine-driven fuel pump adjustment screw was becoming loose. It is possible that the pilot placed the fuel boost pump in the HIGH BOOST/PRIME position before takeoff, which would have increased fuel flow to about 42 gph, but this scenario does not account for the 50-gph fuel flow value reflected in the data. (The fuel boost pump position was not a recorded parameter and the position of the switch at the time of takeoff could not be determined.) Thus, based on the available information, the reason for the fuel flow rates being so high during the takeoff could not be determined. N707DF

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    4. POH for this accident aircraft states:
      - "Prime" selection on pump switch is momentary
      - Engine oil pressure interlock disables prime after start
      - MFD shows fuel flow continuously, alarms/red if over 30 GPM

      May have been rich at takeoff, but not because momentary switch was in "Prime" on the accident aircraft, unless he held it down. A red box with annunciator panel lighting up on malfunctioning fuel control should be seen on scan, so if it was high flow before the accident takeoff, there was an opportunity to detect that.

      Sheet 242 thru 249 for S/N 2803 applies:
      http://servicecenters.cirrusdesign.com/tech_pubs/SR2X/pdf/POH/SR22-001/pdf/Online13772-001.pdf

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  9. If there was engine flooding, maybe because he left the mixture rich while cranking it, then difficulties starting it up and probably failed the magneto check during runup... why bother taking off to begin with?
    Get-theritis strikes again...

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  10. Stalled in a low turn back to runway. Never a good idea. Even being low, should have pulled the chute and flown straight ahead into the crash. Might have reduced the energy to a survivable level.

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    Replies
    1. He most likely put the plane into a cross control stall. No need to pull the chute this is basic emergency procedures. Never EVER circle back to the airport if you experience engine issues at that altitude. Simply push it over gain airspeed for good glide attitude and look for a clearing straight ahead and only small turns to avoid obstacles

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  11. Cirrus Design Section 3
    SR20 Emergency Procedures
    In-Flight Emergencies
    Engine Failure On Takeoff (Low Altitude)
    If the engine fails immediately after becoming airborne, abort on the
    runway if possible. If altitude precludes a runway stop but is not
    sufficient to restart the engine, lower the nose to maintain airspeed
    and establish a glide attitude. In most cases, the landing should be
    made straight ahead, turning only to avoid obstructions. After
    establishing a glide for landing, perform as many of the checklist items
    as time permits.
    • WARNING •
    If a turn back to the runway is elected, be very careful not to
    stall the airplane.
    1. Best Glide or Landing Speed (as appropriate) .......... ESTABLISH
    2. Mixture ..............................................................................CUTOFF
    3. Fuel Selector............................................................................OFF
    4. Ignition Switch..........................................................................OFF
    5. Flaps ...................................................................... AS REQUIRED
    If time permits:
    6. Power Lever ............................................................................ IDLE
    7. Fuel Pump ...............................................................................OFF
    8. Bat-Alt Master Switches...........................................................OFF
    9. Seat Belts ..................................................... ENSURE SECURED

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  12. I still don't understand why hot starts are such a pain with the Jurassic technology in the front and for how much it costs. Cirrus managed to get rid of the prop control and the next task now would be to get rid of the mixture and consolidate everything into a single lever. Sadly prop/manifold pressure synchronization is easy mechanically (tons of youtube videos on how they did it) but the mixture is altogether a different animal and for this everything would need to be by wire and through a control unit.
    Or get a rotax engine if they start producing ones at 200 hp+

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  13. spot on,agree 1000%, these lycomings and continental engines are outdated,70 years old technology, maybe something like this is the future ???! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHlFyxLbOYk

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  14. These cirrus aircraft sure like to stall spin easy

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  15. Replies
    1. No, a fitting end for two incompetent people.

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