Register

Cirrus Parachute Saves Wisconsin Couple

The aircraft came to rest on a steep snowy mountainside about 5 miles north of Aspen. Jane Pargiter/EcoFlight
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Cirrus SR22T crashed near Aspen, Colorado, on January 27, 2020, but its two occupants survived without injury after the pilot activated the aircraft’s ballistic parachute system (CAPS).
  • The crash occurred shortly after takeoff when the pilot reported an airspeed indicator malfunction and subsequently lost ground contact in mountainous terrain.
  • The occupants maintained radio and cellphone contact with authorities, leading to a multi-hour rescue by Mountain Rescue Aspen, who found the aircraft lodged in trees, suspended by its parachute.
See a mistake? Contact us.

A Cirrus SR22T, N288WT, on January 27, 2020, crashed in mountainous terrain about five miles northeast of Aspen, Colorado (ASE), not long after takeoff. Both occupants, a couple from Verona, Wisconsin, near Madison, survived the mid-morning crash without injury after the pilot activated the aircraft’s ballistic parachute system. Rick Beach, safety chairman at the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) told Flying the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System is credited with saving the lives of 192 people in 96 successful chute deployments.

Rob Mark

Rob Mark is an award-winning journalist, business jet pilot, flight instructor, and blogger.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE