Tragic Aircraft Accident: Cirrus SR22 Crashes into Utah Lake, Claiming Two Lives

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On the morning of September 27, 2024, a tragic accident occurred when a Cirrus SR22, registered N831AZ, crashed into Utah Lake while on approach to Provo Airport, claiming the lives of both occupants.

The aircraft, operated by 847CX LLC, was conducting a private flight from Saint George Municipal Airport (SGU/KSGU) to Provo Airport (PVU/KPVU) when the incident took place.

  • Date: Friday, September 27, 2024
  • Time: Approximately 10:11 AM Local Time
  • Location: Utah Lake, Northwest of Provo Airport (PVU/KPVU), Provo, Utah, USA
  • Aircraft: Cirrus SR22, Registration N831AZ
  • Operator: 847CX LLC
  • Fatalities: 2 (Pilot: Michael Hyrum Cox, 43; Passenger: Mark Andrew Johnson, 46)
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial, Aircraft Written Off
  • Weather: Clear skies, calm winds
  • Phase of Flight: Approach
  • Nature of Flight: Private
  • Departure Airport: Saint George Municipal Airport, UT (SGU/KSGU)
  • Destination Airport: Provo Airport, UT (PVU/KPVU)

Sequence of Events

The Cirrus SR22 was on a base-to-final approach for runway 13 at Provo Airport when it reportedly stalled and spun, leading to a crash into Utah Lake at approximately 10:11 AM. The aircraft came down in shallow waters, about eight-and-a-half feet deep, just half a mile northwest of the airport.

Despite the deployment of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), which is designed to bring the aircraft down safely in emergencies, the parachute was deployed too late to be effective. The crash resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, rendering it a total loss.

Analysis and Possible Causes

At this time, the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. While the aircraft was cleared to land, it is unknown what communication, if any, the pilot had with air traffic control in the moments before the crash.

The stalled condition and subsequent spin of the aircraft suggest the possibility of a loss of control during the approach phase, but this has not been confirmed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the factors that led to this tragic event.

Weather Conditions at the Time

METAR

  • KPVU 271613Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/05 A3021 RMK AO2
  • KPVU 271556Z 09003KT 10SM CLR 18/04 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP186 T01780044

The strings you provided are METAR reports, which are standardized weather observations used in aviation. Here's a breakdown of the two METARs:

METAR 1: KPVU 271613Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/05 A3021 RMK AO2

  • KPVU: ICAO code for Provo Municipal Airport, Utah, USA.
  • 271613Z: Date and time of the observation. The report was made on the 27th of the month at 16:13 UTC (Z stands for Zulu time, which is equivalent to UTC).
  • 00000KT: Wind is calm, with no significant direction or speed (0 knots).
  • 10SM: Visibility is 10 statute miles or more.
  • CLR: Clear skies, meaning no significant clouds below 12,000 feet.
  • 18/05: Temperature is 18°C, and the dew point is 5°C.
  • A3021: Altimeter setting is 30.21 inches of mercury.
  • RMK AO2: Remarks section, indicating the station has an automated weather observation system with a precipitation sensor.

METAR 2: KPVU 271556Z 09003KT 10SM CLR 18/04 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP186 T01780044

  • KPVU: ICAO code for Provo Municipal Airport, Utah, USA.
  • 271556Z: Date and time of the observation. The report was made on the 27th of the month at 15:56 UTC.
  • 09003KT: Wind is coming from 90 degrees (east) at 3 knots.
  • 10SM: Visibility is 10 statute miles or more.
  • CLR: Clear skies, meaning no significant clouds below 12,000 feet.
  • 18/04: Temperature is 18°C, and the dew point is 4°C.
  • A3021: Altimeter setting is 30.21 inches of mercury.
  • RMK AO2: Remarks section, indicating the station has an automated weather observation system with a precipitation sensor.
  • SLP186: Sea-level pressure is 1018.6 hPa.
  • T01780044: The exact temperature is 17.8°C, and the exact dew point is 4.4°C.

These conditions suggest clear weather with no significant obstructions to visibility, which could indicate that the stall or spin was not due to weather but likely related to the flight dynamics during the approach phase.

The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS)

In this aviation accident, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), which is a safety feature designed to deploy a parachute to bring the entire aircraft safely to the ground in case of an emergency, was activated. However, the deployment occurred too late in the sequence of events to be fully effective.

The CAPS system is typically engaged by the pilot in situations where a safe landing isn't possible, such as in the case of engine failure, structural failure, or loss of control. Once deployed, the parachute should ideally slow the descent of the aircraft enough to reduce the impact forces upon landing, potentially saving the lives of those on board.

However, in this particular incident, various factors might have contributed to the delayed deployment, such as:
  1. Altitude: The aircraft may have been too close to the ground when the CAPS was deployed, leaving insufficient time for the parachute to fully open and slow the descent.
  2. Speed: If the aircraft was traveling at a high speed, the parachute might not have had enough time to decelerate the plane effectively before impact.
  3. Pilot Reaction: The pilot may have hesitated or been unable to activate the system quickly enough due to the stress of the situation, disorientation, or other factors.
  4. System Malfunction: While less likely, it's possible there was a malfunction or issue with the CAPS system itself, causing it to deploy improperly.

As a result, while the CAPS did deploy, it was not able to perform its intended function of preventing a catastrophic outcome. This incident underscores the importance of timely decision-making and deployment in emergencies where CAPS is available.

Track Log for Aircraft

Given that the pilot was cleared to land but then aborted the landing and headed towards Utah Lake, several potential reasons could explain this decision:

  1. Loss of Control: The pilot may have experienced a loss of control while attempting to land. This could result from factors like wind shear, turbulence, or other environmental conditions that made landing unsafe.

  2. Technical Malfunction: There may have been a mechanical failure or technical issue with the aircraft that prompted the pilot to abort the landing. This could include issues with the engine, flight controls, or other critical systems.

  3. Situational Awareness: The pilot might have realized that landing on the runway was no longer feasible due to obstacles or unexpected changes in the flight path. In such cases, the pilot might opt to divert to a safer area, though in this instance, it ultimately led to a crash.

  4. Weather Conditions: Although the METAR indicates clear skies at the time of the incident, localized weather phenomena (like sudden gusts or changes in visibility) can sometimes arise unexpectedly, leading pilots to make split-second decisions.

  5. Pilot Judgment: The pilot may have perceived a risk in continuing the landing approach—whether from visual cues or flight parameters—and made the judgment to abort landing. If the pilot felt that landing was too risky, they may have chosen to circle around or seek an alternative.

  6. Emergency Procedures: If the pilot encountered a critical situation—such as an engine failure or significant vibration—they may have attempted to follow emergency procedures. This could involve trying to maintain altitude while heading towards an open area, though it ultimately did not succeed.



Rescue and Recovery Efforts

The recovery operation was challenging due to the shallow depth of the water and the mud and dirt in the lake, which severely limited visibility. Initial recovery efforts were hampered by the conditions, but by the evening, the bodies of both the pilot, Michael Hyrum Cox, 43, from St. George, and the passenger, Mark Andrew Johnson, 46, from Washington, Utah, had been recovered from the wreckage.

Witnesses, including those in boats on the lake at the time of the crash, reported the incident to 911. Emergency responders, including the Provo Fire and Police Departments, Utah Highway Patrol, and the Utah County Sheriff's Office, swiftly mobilized to the scene. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga Springs Fire, and Rescue, along with a dive team and Provo Search and Rescue, participated in the recovery operation.

Conclusion

The loss of Michael Hyrum Cox and Mark Andrew Johnson in this accident is a devastating reminder of the inherent risks associated with aviation. As the investigation continues, authorities hope to uncover the precise reasons behind the crash to prevent future occurrences of similar accidents.

Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time.

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Location: 66XR+PX Provo, UT, USA

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