NTSB Factual Report

On January 8, 2016, at 1538 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR22, Canadian registration C-GXXJ, owned and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain, after deployment of the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS), following a loss of control near Concord Regional Airport (JQF), Concord, North Carolina. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight that departed Erie International Airport (ERI), Erie, Pennsylvania, about 1100. The flight was destined for Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot stated that while the autopilot was engaged and the airplane established on the instrument landing system approach to runway 36R at CLT, he observed a "vertical flag drop" [on the primary flight display (PFD)], which indicated to him that the airplane was below the glideslope. The autopilot did not correct for the deviation. Subsequently, as the airplane entered visual meteorological conditions below a cloud layer, the pilot observed [the PFD] was indicating that the airplane was on course; however, the runway was to his right. Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructed the pilot to go-around and later provided vectors to JQF, located about 15 miles to the northeast.

The pilot hand-flew the airplane toward JQF and was cleared for the GPS approach to runway 02. He initially believed the clearance was for runway 20, and as a result he had difficulty finding the appropriate "fix." After he realized the error, he asked for and received vectors for the GPS approach to runway 02. During that approach, after he was established on the inbound course, the pilot engaged the autopilot again. As he did so, the airplane began to climb and bank sharply to the right. The pilot reported that he then received "terrain" and "envelope protection" warnings, as well as an advisory from ATC indicating he was "too low, and needed to climb." He pushed the "Straight and Level" button on the autopilot, but the airplane did not respond. He then deployed the CAPS and secured the engine. The airplane descended into a residential area, landed in a grass yard and impacted a chain link fence.

The 1540 recorded weather observation at JQF included wind 340 at 5 knots, visibility 3 miles in moderate mist with and overcast ceiling at 500 feet, temperature 45 degrees F, dew point 43 degrees F; barometric altimeter 30.80 inches of mercury

Examination of the airplane at the scene by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the underside of the left wing, the left main landing gear and the nose landing gear. The flaps were in the retracted position. The parachute remained attached to the airplane through its harness.

The airplane was retained for further examination. The PFD, the autopilot computer, and the multi-function display were forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory, Washington, DC, for data recovery.