Successful Landing after Cirrus Vision Jet Engine Failure

The pilot flying a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet made a successful emergency landing on June 2 at Athens-Ben Epps Airport (KAHN) in Georgia after the single-engine jet’s Williams International FJ33-5A engine failed at about 11,000 feet. According to FlightAware, the Vision Jet departed from Greene County Regional Airport (KCPP) in Greensboro, Georgia.

The jet—N129KA—is a 2024 G2+ model, according to a listing on brokerage Lone Mountain Aircraft, with 256 hours TT at the time of the listing. 

According to reports cited by Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network, the Vision Jet “suffered an uncontained engine failure while climbing through 11,000 feet.” The pilot apparently elected not to use the jet’s Cirrus Airframe Parachute System and glided safely to KAHN.

At this time, there is no additional information on the engine failure. AIN has reached out to Cirrus, Williams International, and Lone Mountain for statements but had not received replies at press time.

Cirrus Vision Jet pilots practice engine-out glides and landings in the full-motion SF50 simulator during type-rating training. With a glide ratio of 14.7:1, the jet performs better with its engine inoperative than typical single-engine trainers with glide ratios of around 9:1 (for example, the Cessna 172).