Flight Design CTSW accident near Fort Meade, Maryland, April 29, 2007
On April 29, 2007 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Flight Design CTSW, registered N22QT, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Meade, Maryland (Tipton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions during the landing flare, resulting in a loss of control, and an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident was the wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2007 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Meade, Maryland · Tipton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design CTSW
- Registration
- N22QT · registry record · serial 05-07-14
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to an FAA inspector who interviewed the student pilot, the student pilot stated that during the final approach to land in gusty wind conditions, the airplane rolled left, and the left wingtip struck the ground. The airplane cartwheeled, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The FAA inspector said the student pilot told him that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. Additionally, the FAA inspector examined the airplane, and found no flight control or mechanical anomalies. Winds at a nearby reporting station were from 310 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 19 knots.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 62.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFME Fort Meade MD at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KNAK, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N22QT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.