N242AZ

On December 20, 2025, about 1302 central standard time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N242AZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Springfield, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The airplane departed from the General Dewitt Spain Airport (M01), Memphis, Tennessee, about 1130, for the cross-country flight. According to the pilot, about an hour and twenty minutes after departing, while in cruise flight at 8,000 ft mean sea level, he received a Crew Alerting System (CAS) message indicating a high turbine inlet temperature (TIT). The pilot followed the appropriate checklist and reduced fuel flow to the engine which resolved the CAS message; however, the engine started to run rough. The engine roughness increased over time though the engine instruments indicated normal operation. The pilot elected to divert to the Springfield – Branson National Airport (SGF), Springfield, Missouri, and started a descent. Upon reducing power for the descent, the engine ran significantly worse. The pilot descended at the airplane’s best glide speed and prepared to make a forced landing to a road. The pilot stated that during the forced landing, he moved the power lever forward, but the engine did not provide any thrust.

The pilot landed on the southbound lanes on US 65, about 9 miles east-northeast of SGF. During the landing, the airplane’s left wing struck a road sign, crossed the highway median and came to rest upright in the northbound lanes. The pilot and the passenger were able to egress from the airplane without further incident. A post-accident fire ensued and partially consumed the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for future examination.

The airplane was equipped with a Continental Motors IO-550-N51 reciprocating engine and a Hartzell PHC-J3YF-1N/N7605C 3-blade controllable pitch composite propeller.