Another Cirrus SR22 Down, New Jersey

Crash reported at 1526Z
Solid IFR across the entire area at the time with an active AIRMET for IFR
AIRMET for Icing as well, with a freezing level between 080 and 120

KLDJ 301515Z AUTO 12006KT 7SM OVC006 07/05 A3017 RMK AO2 T00730053
KSMQ 301453Z AUTO 12006KT 8SM OVC008 08/06 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP206 T00780061 58006
KTTN 301453Z 08009KT 9SM OVC005 07/06 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP198 T00720061 58007
KBLM 301527Z AUTO 08008KT 1/2SM -RA FG OVC002 07/07 A3015 RMK AO2 P0000 RVRNO

Have not been able to locate a flight track via the usual tracking sites using the reported crash time. However, based on the news reports, it was flying from Princeton (39N) to Raleigh-Durham (RDU). So here's a snippet of the direct course (in magenta) and the approximate crash site based on the news article (red circle):

1743377653371.png

According to the article, the aircraft had been in contact with ATC prior to the crash. Unsure of the filed route at this time, but it should be noted there is a departure procedure at 39N, from which a runway 10 departure (winds were easterly) could ostensibly put the aircraft north of the airport prior to any further routing.

1743377918029.png
 
Ah that makes sense. This is the article I was using and the time there is off by an hour as of the time of this writing.

According to ADS-B, it departed 39N to the east and turned northeast. ADS-B indicated autopilot was engaged and a fairly steady ground track and altitude potentially corroborates that. Then, according to ADS-B (and correlated with the beginning of a wavering ground track), autopilot was disengaged. Almost immediately, the aircraft descended about 150' before climbing 100'. It then entered a sharp right turn of about 63° of track in 13 seconds (~5°/sec), while descending at up to 1500 feet/minute down to 1225' (ads-b indicated). It recovered from that, stayed straight and started climbing rapidly back to 1600' before entering a left 270° spiraling descent, with increasing speed over the following 30 seconds or so, averaging about 2400fpm and 9°/sec until ending at about the location the wreckage was found. At no time after the initial autopilot disengagement did ADS-B ever show re-engagement.
 
The autopilot was turned on first, then altitude hold. After AP disengaged, ALT mode (assuming for the FD) remained. Does the flight director on a G7 SR22 activate with autopilot activation?

If I’m not mistaken, it’s in pitch mode and role mode until the altitude hold is selected. Never engaged a lateral mode, like HDG. When using the AP soon after takeoff and entering IMC I would think HDG mode would be selected, unless there is a good reason not to.

Regardless, things go crazy after AP disengaged.

Appears to be offered as a $625/hour rental at that airport.

Sad day for the pilots family.
 
The G6 Fd disappears if you disengage using the yoke button. If you use the button on the ap, the fd stays active. I assume the g7 would be the same. Sad accident.
 
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