Flight Design GMBH CTLS accident near Pittsford, Michigan, August 31, 2012
On August 31, 2012 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Flight Design GMBH CTLS, registered N995LS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Pittsford, Michigan. 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2012 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsford, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CTLS · all CTLSs on the register
- Registration
- N995LS · no longer on the register · serial F-10-07-12
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 15-hour student pilot was making a low pass over a relative’s private airstrip when the accident occurred. The student stated that on the first low pass he used 15-degrees of flaps. He stated that he used 30-degrees of flaps during the second low pass and the airplane “pitched” to the left when he added power to go around. He was unable to correct the loss of directional control, and the airplane’s left wing contacted trees and separated from the airplane before it impacted the ground. The closest weather reporting station located 7 miles northwest of the accident site reported the wind was from the southwest at 7 knots and the landing was being made to the south. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 414 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 13, 2012; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hillsdale Aero INC
The flight
- Departed from: KJYM Hillsdale MI at 12:15 pm
- Destination: KJYM Hillsdale MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:34 pm from JYM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.