I saw a post in another forum where the poster reviewed his airspeeds during this fateful pattern. He flew his base at 76 knots, which is too slow for 20 IMO. After 50 % flaps are deployed I like to slow to at most 100kts on the descent, usually slowing to 95 by turn to base. After the turn to base I'll go to 100% flaps and allow the plane to slow to between 90 and 85. I'll fly at 90 to 85 until short final, where I'll slow to about 78 by the fence. This is full flaps. I'm generally in a 22, but the 20 is similar on speeds, just a little slower at the fence.
So at first glance, it sounds like this guy was behind the airplane and probably didn't have the skills to understand that and save himself. At my last review of this accident is was still unclear as to whether he was the one reporting the runaway trim. But even if he had run away trim, the airplane should have still been flyable. Cirrus trim is basically spring loaded, there are no pilot adjustable trim tabs, you basically move a spring to counter stick forces.
The 20 G6 is a high performance aircraft. 215 hp and it will cruise at 150 knots. It is a TAA aircraft, learning all the systems is lot of work, never mind learning them while learning to fly. The Cirrus wasn't around when I learned to fly. It was around when I came back after 25 years off. I understood that higher performance aircraft are more of a handful to fly, so I opted to come back in a 172 with a six pack. I fully anticipated getting checked out in the 20 after I got my flight review and that's how I did it. If anyone asks me, that's what I advise. Start with a lower performance, simple airplane with a six pack. Learn how to be a pilot first, stick and rudder skills, versus complex system management.
I was very cognizant of how the instructor who brought me back to flying and did my flight review, changed when we started flying the 20. At that time it was a $150k aircraft versus a $40k trainer, now a 20 is $600k. The instructor did not let things get as far out of control as when I was in the trainer. It was just different, and I remember thinking at the time, if I were just starting out, I would have missed many lessons.
The accident airplane had envelope protection. I suspect he was feeling the plane trying to save him and fought it. That could be wrong, hopefully the SD card for flight data was installed and we can figure out what happened.
One last thing for student pilots. Tell the controllers you speak to that you are a student pilot. There is no shame, the controllers are more helpful and will not try to squeeze you in. I learned and still fly in a very busy delta. Even after I got my license, I would use the student pilot card if I got uptight. Use it!
Next, if you are on final and you have an issue, declare an emergency. Chances are, if the student was having a trim issue and the controller understood, she would not have issued the go around order. Also, once you declare an emergency, you can refuse the go around order. Do what you need to do to SAFELY get on the ground.
Finally, I haven't listened to the tapes, but it sounds like someone said they had a trim issue, the controller apparently didn't hear it and kept talking to others. If you are talking to a controller and someone says they have an issue. If the controller comes to you instead of working the issue, make sure you ask the controller if they heard the issue call. Then everyone STFU. We need to help each other out, controllers can get task saturated too.
