The Cirrus SR20 that deployed its whole airplane recovery parachute last week in Danbury, Connecticut, did so after making a classic mistake that continues to top the list of general aviation accident causes.
According to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Friday, the airplane was on approach to Runway 26 at Danbury Municipal Airport at night in VFR conditions when its tanks ran dry, the engine quit and the pilot proceeded to pull the chute, triggering a controlled descent into trees approximately three miles from the airport.
