That was really the first owner review of Cirrus I'd read. Really interesting comments about the utility, or lack thereof, of the airframe parachute system, which to this Cessna pilot, always looked like the worst kind of idiotware. The comments about the spring loaded control system, plus the greater tendency for spin, compared to GA airplanes with greater built-in stability, cause me to agree with Greenspun's assessment that this is an airplane that can quickly become a handful for an inexperienced pilot.

Good post, if of limited interest.

"But if you're up in the air and something goes wrong, you pull that parachute, and the whole plane goes down slowly."

Wow that's a scary statement. Sadly, some folks seem to think learning to fly is complicated and a big achievement when it is in fact just the beginning. Like driving a car, you really haven't achieved much until you can react to the most dire situations almost instinctually.

Not a pilot here, but I know just enough that this was fascinating (if a little too detailed -- not inappropriately -- in spots). So given:

* Lidle wsa inexperienced
* Even experienced pilots can have trouble with the Cirrus
* Composite wing fuel tank
* Reported "fuel problem" on radio
* Seemed to turn left and hit building from north after traveling northbound

... I'm speculating that he may have had some type of fuel leak, perhaps from a previous hard landing, and this caused a spin or spiral he couldn't recover from. Grim.

Must be a couple of years since I read anything of Phil's. He's still a terrific explainer, even if his prose is dull. Sometimes his enthusiasm makes up for that.