Incredible maybe but yes it has happened as well as many other needless pulls.
Pace
So who decides it is a needless pull?
Me?
You?
By your standards as a commercial highly experienced pilot?
No. The point is every pilot meets the required standard to fly a Cirrus, and demonstrates that ability every other year to the satisfaction of an instructor.
At the level and standard of the pilots concerned they thought in the circumstances in which they found themselves the chute pull was necessary and in most cases in may have saved their lives. Without the chute they probably would have got themselves into the same situation.
So if a finger is to be pointed it might better be pointed at the general standard of pilots.
I know, back to the argument that Cirrus pilots take on missions that no other pilot would do because of the chute. However I simply do not believe their is the evidence to support that argument - its emotive, without a factual basis.