Aviation News Talk Podcast

Max discusses the crash of N831AZ, a Cirrus SR22 at Provo, Utah. The aircraft was following a slower light sport aircraft in the traffic pattern for runway 13. The Cirrus pilot was instructed to go around after getting too close to the preceding aircraft. During both traffic patterns, the pilot struggled with airspeed management, flying with a constantly decreasing airspeed instead of maintaining a stable approach. On the second attempt, the aircraft stalled during the base-to-final turn and crashed into Utah Lake, possibly entering a spin before impact. He emphasizes the importance of stabilized approaches, maintaining consistent airspeeds, and using proper trim when adding flaps to prevent the nose from rising. He also highlights issues with situational awareness, including managing separation in traffic patterns and avoiding distractions like non-essential conversations in the cockpit. He believes that older Cirrus models have higher accident rates, possibly due to a lack of training rather than the air