Flight Design GMBH CTLS accident near Hana, Hawaii, January 15, 2022
On January 15, 2022 at about 7:55 pm local time, a 2008 Flight Design GMBH CTLS, registered N992SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Hana, Hawaii (Hana Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2022 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hana, Hawaii · Hana Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CTLS, built 2008 · all CTLSs on the register
- Registration
- N992SA · registry record · serial 08-02-06
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot-rated passenger completed several takeoffs and landings before departing to their destination. The pilot reported that, during the accident takeoff, the airplane “had no power to climb” and was “sinking.” The airplane descended into trees and impacted terrain in a near-vertical attitude just past the departure end of the runway. The pilot-rated passenger stated that the pilot pitched the airplane “higher than he needed” and “held the high pitch attitude” until the airplane descended into the trees, and pilot-rated witnesses reported that the airplane exhibited an “unusually high” nose-up pitch attitude during the takeoff. Postaccident examination of the engine and engine monitoring system data revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. Given the passenger and witness statements regarding the airplane’s nose-high pitch attitude, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb after takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 416 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 13, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 825 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 23, 2022; 35.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS SERIES (piston); 825 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNM Hana HI at 8:00 pm
- Destination: OOG Kahului HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,606 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 am from PHOG, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PHOG 151954Z 00000KT 10SM FEW050 26/17 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02610172
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 23, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cockpit Displays - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Attachment 1 to Cockpit Displays - Specialist's Factual Report | data file | Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Flight Data Recorder | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Witness Statements | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.