Flight Design GMBH CT2K accident near Mitchell, South Dakota, May 13, 2009
On May 13, 2009 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Flight Design GMBH CT2K, registered N433CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Mitchell, South Dakota (Mitchell Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting winds during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2009 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mitchell, South Dakota · Mitchell Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CT2K · all CT2Ks on the register
- Registration
- N433CT · registry record · serial 02.08.04.33
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that as he approached the destination airport he listened to the automated weather conditions. The reported conditions included winds from 290 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 35 knots. The pilot stated that he flew an extended downwind to Runway 30 in order to ensure runway alignment. On final approach, he increased his speed and used less flap extension to allow for the gusting wind conditions. He stated that when the airplane was about to touch down, a gust of wind raised the airplane into the air and then the airplane dropped abruptly to the runway. When the airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions of the airplane.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 527 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 525 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 449 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MN65 Maple Plain MN at 5:58 pm
- Destination: MHE Mitchell SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 290° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from MHE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N433CT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN09CA305.