2006 New York City Cirrus SR20 crash

February 2026 Aircraft crash into a building November 2023 November 2023 2006 New York City Cirrus SR20 crash N929CD impact site.jpg The impact site of the aircraft in the Belaire Apartments 2006 10 11 Controlled flight into building Accident Belaire Apartments, Manhattan, New York City, US 40.76616 -73.95221 type:event_region:US-NY inline,title 2 2 0 A Cirrus SR20 similar to the aircraft involved in the incident Cirrus SR20 Private N929CD Teterboro AirportTeterboro, New Jersey, US 0 21 (including 11 firefighters) CirrusSR20Landing.jpg 2 21 On October 11, 2006, a Cirrus SR20 aircraft crashed into the Belaire Apartments on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, United States, at about 2:42 p.m. EDT (18:42 UTC). The aircraft struck the north side of the building, causing a fire in several apartmentshttps://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=2555263&page=1 Yankee Pitcher Dies as Plane Crashes Into NYC High-Rise October 11, 2006 ABC News May 8, 2009 December 2, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061202105722/http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=2555263&page=1 live http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/11/plane.crash/index.html Yankees pitcher killed in crash of small plane in Manhattan October 12, 2006 CNN May 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090415025229/http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/11/plane.crash/index.html April 15, 2009 live that was extinguished within two hours.Yankees Player Among Two Killed In Small Plane Crash On Manhattan's UES NY1 October 11, 2006 http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=63370 May 8, 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003406/http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=63370 September 27, 2007 Both people aboard the aircraft were killed in the accident: New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his certificated flight instructor Tyler Stanger.Feinsand Mark Yankees' Lidle killed in plane crash MLB.com October 11, 2006 http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061011&content_id=1708962&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb May 8, 2009 December 2, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061202124741/http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061011&content_id=1708962&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb live Yaniv Oren Leo Standora http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/461030p-387873c.html 2nd victim died living his dream October 12, 2006 May 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20061029072634/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/461030p-387873c.html October 29, 2006 New York Daily News Twenty-one people were injured, including eleven firefighters. An apartment resident, Ilana Benhuri, who lived in the building with her husband, was hospitalized for a month with severe burns incurred when the post-impact fire engulfed her apartment.Woman Burned in NYC Plane Crash Released Associated Press Fox News November 10, 2006 http://origin.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228732,00.html May 8, 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110711022239/http://origin.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C228732%2C00.html July 11, 2011Barron James Manhattan Plane Crash Kills Yankee Pitcher The New York Times October 12, 2006 https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/12crash.html May 8, 2009 March 16, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140316133045/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/12crash.html live The Cirrus SR20 aircraft, tail number N929CD, was owned by Lidle.N-Number Inquiry Results: N929CD Federal Aviation Administration May 1, 2006 http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?verified=1&NNumbertxt=929CD October 11, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061026103146/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?verified=1&NNumbertxt=929CD October 26, 2006 dead On May 1, 2007, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the probable cause of the crash was pilot error. The NTSB was unable to determine which person was flying the aircraft at the time of the crash.Judgement Call: Lidle accident may lead to tighter N.Y.C. flight restrictions, Aviation Week & Space Technology, May 7, 2007, pg 92 Flight The aircraft departed from Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, New Jersey, at 2:29 pm EDT (18:29 UTC). With the Yankees' season having come to an end four days prior, Lidle planned to fly to Nashville, Tennessee, where he had a hotel room booked for the night,Lidle dies after plane crashes into NYC high-rise https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2621860 ESPN October 11, 2006 August 30, 2020 November 9, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020846/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2621860 dead then to Dallas, Texas, and finally on to his home in California.A look at Lidle's final hours Newsday October 13, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spcorytick1013,0,7510581.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines May 8, 2009May 2026 medicmedic Granju Katie Plane that crashed into NYC high-rise headed to Tennessee WBIR.com October 12, 2006 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/yankee-killed-in-high-rise-plane-crash/ October 12, 2006 July 3, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250703105750/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/yankee-killed-in-high-rise-plane-crash/ dead Nason David Not terror, but lack of rules terrifying The Australian October 13, 2006 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20572353-2703,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20061031095120/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0%2C20867%2C20572353-2703%2C00.html dead October 31, 2006 May 8, 2009 Radar measurements show that, immediately before the crash, Lidle's aircraft was flying at 112 mph (180 km/h) at 700 ft m altitudeFAA restricts low-altitude flights along East River SportsIllustrated.com October 13, 2006 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/10/13/lidle.faa.ap/index.html May 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20061112220728/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/10/13/lidle.faa.ap/index.html November 12, 2006 in the East River VFR corridor, an area which former NTSB official Peter Goelz described as "very tricky" due to its narrow width and frequent congestion.Hauser Christine Crash Raises Questions About Aviation Rules The New York Times October 12, 2006 https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/13airspacecnd.html May 8, 2009 May 2, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210502105651/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/13airspacecnd.html live Lidle's Plane Traveled Along Feared Path Patrick McGeehan Matthew L. Wald The New York Times October 12, 2006 May 8, 2009 https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/12how.html November 14, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121114153052/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/12how.html live The VFR corridor ends abruptly at the northern tip of Roosevelt Island. Aircraft must receive an air traffic control clearance to proceed beyond the boundaries of the corridor, or else make a sharp U-turn and return the way they came. Lidle's plane flew north along the corridor almost to the end before executing a turn and hitting the north face of the building along the river. Crash thumb|The main wreckage of the aircraft after it fell down to the sidewalk below The airplane struck the Belaire, a 42-story condominium tower at 524 East 72nd Street,Small plane hits Manhattan building Associated Press The Washington Times October 11, 2006 http://www.washtimes.com/national/20061011-030107-8393r.htm May 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20061116024545/http://www.washtimes.com/national/20061011-030107-8393r.htm November 16, 2006 nose-first at approximately 30 stories above the ground.Yanks Mourn Loss of Pitcher Killed in Plane Crash WCBS/AP October 12, 2006 http://www.wcbs880.com/pages/103029.php?contentType=4&contentId=221701 May 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20061120211739/http://wcbs880.com/pages/103029.php?contentType=4&contentId=221701 November 20, 2006 The plane hit the apartment owned by Dr. Parviz Benhuri and his wife Ilana, the latter of whom was seated in the room when the plane crashed and, thus, sustained fragmentation injuries and burns. Her housekeeper was also present and helped her escape.http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/461343p-388066c.html Reliving horror Tina Moore Dave Goldiner New York Daily News October 13, 2006 May 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20061023022221/http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/461343p-388066c.html October 23, 2006 The engine landed in and set fire to the apartment of a woman who had suffered a previous freak accident—having been left comatose when a balloon at the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade knocked a piece of a lamppost onto her head—but the apartment was unoccupied at the time. Bad luck strikes twice for New York woman https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/bad-luck-strikes-twice-for-new-york-woman/ November 19, 2023 The Seattle Times October 14, 2006 upright=1.2|thumb|Map of the crash's location on the Upper East Side thumb|Accident flight path from the final NTSB report The aircraft's Ballistic Recovery Systems emergency parachute, designed to bring the small plane down safely from altitudes above 500 ft, was not deployed.Lidle's plane equipped with emergency parachute Associated Press ESPN October 11, 2006 https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2622200 May 8, 2009 November 13, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061113080440/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2622200 live The plane circled the Statue of Liberty before flying north up the East River and disappeared from radar near the Queensboro Bridge. It was flying under visual flight rules (VFR) and had attracted no special attention from air traffic controllers or NORAD before the crash. The aircraft took a hard U-shaped turn before it hit the building.Aircraft Accident Report – Crash During Turn Maneuver Federal Aviation Administration October 11, 2006 https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/fulltext/AAB0702.html November 16, 2011 November 8, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111108043905/http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/fulltext/AAB0702.html live Reactions left|thumb|upright=0.9|East-facing view of smoke from the building (right) shortly before the post-crash fire was extinguished In an interview Lidle gave about a month earlier, he stated he had been a pilot for seven months and had flown about 95 solo hours.Tyler Kepner In Lidle, Yanks Have Extra Pitcher and Backup Pilot The New York Times September 8, 2006 https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/sports/baseball/08yankees.html May 8, 2009 April 10, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090410041939/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/sports/baseball/08yankees.html live The crash garnered extra attention because of superficial similarities to the September 11 attacks in New York City, which had occurred five years earlier. U.S. officials said that NORAD scrambled fighter aircraft over numerous American and Canadian cities for combat air patrol,NY Yankee Cory Lidle killed in plane crash CTV October 11, 2006 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061011/nyc_plane_061011/20061011?hub=CTVNewsAt11 https://web.archive.org/web/20070313184712/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061011/nyc_plane_061011/20061011?hub=CTVNewsAt11 dead March 13, 2007 May 8, 2009 and that U.S. President George W. Bush was informed about the situation, but that these were precautionary measures only.CNN International live television coverage, October 11, 2006 The FBI quickly announced there was no reason to suspect that the crash was an act of terrorism.Aircraft hits New York building BBC News October 11, 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6042306.stm May 8, 2009 February 4, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090204192959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6042306.stm live LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport did not experience delays from the crash. Police cordoned off several blocks at the peak of the confusion, but subway and NY Waterway ferry services continued without interruption. The FAA initially imposed a temporary flight restriction on an area within one nautical mile (1.9 km) of the scene, from ground level to 1500 ft m altitude.New York Crash Aftermath. https://web.archive.org/web/20061028050925/http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/726-full.html#193428 October 28, 2006 AVWeb.com Retrieved May 8, 2009. New York Governor George Pataki called for permanent restrictions,NYC high-rise plane crash probe yields more questions than answers News 12 – Westchester October 12, 2006 https://westchester.news12.com/nyc-high-rise-plane-crash-probe-yields-more-questions-than-answers-34903524 December 27, 2022 December 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221227200223/https://westchester.news12.com/nyc-high-rise-plane-crash-probe-yields-more-questions-than-answers-34903524 live although mayor Michael Bloomberg opposed a permanent restriction. On October 13, 2006, two days after the crash, the FAA banned all fixed-winged aircraft from the East River corridor unless in contact with local air traffic control. The new rule, which took effect immediately, required all small aircraft (with the exception of helicopters and certain seaplanes) to seek the approval of and stay in contact with air traffic control while in the corridor. The FAA cited safety concerns, especially unpredictable winds from between buildings, as the reason for the change. Investigation On October 11, the National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a six-member team from Washington, D.C. to New York City,NTSB Sends Team to Investigate Plane Crash Into Building in Manhattan NTSB October 11, 2006 https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NTSB_Sends_Team_to_Investigate_Plane_Crash_into_Building_in_Manhattan.aspx April 4, 2017 April 6, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170406030647/https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NTSB_Sends_Team_to_Investigate_Plane_Crash_into_Building_in_Manhattan.aspx live which arrived at the scene in the evening to take fuel samples and examine clues found in the debris. These included the aircraft's bent propeller, a charred memory chip, the undeployed parachute,Barry Ellen NYC Crash Puts Flight Path in Politicians' Sights Los Angeles Times October 13, 2006 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-13-na-plane13-story.html May 8, 2009 October 9, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121009002759/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/oct/13/nation/na-plane13 live and Lidle's flight log book.Toosi Nahal Investigators Comb Lidle Plane Debris Connecticut Post October 12, 2006 http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4480661 May 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20061014145001/http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4480661 October 14, 2006 The NTSB determined at a final hearing on May 1, 2007, that "the pilots' inadequate planning, judgment, and airmanship in the performance of a 180-degree turn maneuver inside of a limited turning space" caused the crash.https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAB0702.aspx Crash During Turn Maneuver, Cirrus SR-20, N929CD NTSB May 1, 2007 April 4, 2017 April 30, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170430005553/https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAB0702.aspx live The investigation was unable to determine whether Lidle or his flight instructor Stanger was at the controls. Although there was 2100 ft m of space available, the aircraft used only about 1700 ft m of width to make the 180-degree turn—but this distance was effectively reduced to 1300 ft m by the 13 kn km/h on easterly winds that day. A bank angle of at least 53 degrees would be required to successfully execute a 180-degree turn in this distance. If the required bank was not initiated early then, as the turn progressed, the bank angle would have needed to have been increased, possibly resulting in an aerodynamic stall. The investigation was unable to determine if the plane stalled at the time of the crash. An animation of the flight path combining radar data with a Coast Guard video of the East River was also presented.https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/Update_on_Cirrus_Plane_Crash_in_Manhattan_New_York.aspx Update on Cirrus Plane Crash in Manhattan, New York NTSB November 3, 2006 April 4, 2017 April 6, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170406033654/https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/Update_on_Cirrus_Plane_Crash_in_Manhattan_New_York.aspx live http://www.aviationpros.com/news/10395537/ntsb-wind-blew-lidle-plane-off-course NTSB: Wind blew Lidle plane off course Leslie Miller AP November 3, 2006 aviationpros.com April 4, 2017 April 5, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170405171143/http://www.aviationpros.com/news/10395537/ntsb-wind-blew-lidle-plane-off-course live NTSBgov Board Meeting Animation – Crash During Turn Maneuver, Cirrus SR-20, N929CD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A8kNQc7iq8 YouTube National Transportation Safety Board February 18, 2020 May 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200527223808/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A8kNQc7iq8&gl=US&hl=en live A 2007 lawsuit brought by Lidle's family against the manufacturer of the aircraft, Cirrus Design, alleging a mechanical defect, was rejected by a jury in May 2011.Cirrus not to blame for fatal Lidle accident, jury says http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2011/110524cirrus_not_to_blame_for_lidle_accident.html Alyssa J. Miller May 24, 2011 AOPA May 26, 2011 May 30, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110530173400/http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2011/110524cirrus_not_to_blame_for_lidle_accident.html live Dramatization It is featured in season 2, episode 4, of the TV show Why Planes Crash, in an episode titled "Small Planes, Big Problem", which first aired in 2016."Small Planes, Big Problem" - Why Planes Crash. MSNBC. June 18, 2016 See also New York City Aviation Box canyon (aviation) – A hazardous narrow canyon that may require a sharp turn to escape 1945 Empire State Building B-25 crash 1946 plane crash at 40 Wall Street 2002 Pirelli Tower airplane crash 2026 Beijing Sunward SA 60L Crash List of fires in high-rise buildings References 30em Further reading 30em "Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle killed in UES plane crash" (WABC-TV) "Aircraft crashes into NYC building" (MSNBC) "Airplane crashes into Manhattan high-rise" (CNN) https://web.archive.org/web/20090415025229/http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/11/plane.crash/index.html April 15, 2009 "Yankee's Lidle killed in plane crash" (TSN) https://web.archive.org/web/20070929155803/http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=180467&hubname= September 29, 2007 Ladson Bill Yankees pitcher dies as plane hits NYC building NBC News October 11, 2006 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15223650 May 8, 2009 October 12, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131012065501/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15223650/ live http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/11/plane.crash/index.html An aircraft slammed into the Belaire Condominiums... CNN November 12, 2006 October 11, 2006 April 15, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090415025229/http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/11/plane.crash/index.html live External links fr Analysis at Journal des accidents et des catastrophes N929CD profile with photos report from FDNY Communications Center on handling the crash, from 9-1-1 Magazine. Plane Wreckage Video Plane crash Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2006 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in New York City New York City plane crash Category:Building and structure fires in New York City Category:October 2006 in the United States Category:Residential building fires in the United States Category:Upper East Side Category:High-rise fires in the United States Category:Aviation accidents and incidents caused by pilot error