Flight Design GMBH CTSW accident near Taos, New Mexico, July 10, 2013
On July 10, 2013 at about 5:07 pm local time, a 2005 Flight Design GMBH CTSW, registered N424CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Taos, New Mexico (Taos Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's unexpected encounter with a dust devil, which resulted in the loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2013 · about 5:07 pm local time
- Place
- Taos, New Mexico · Taos Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CTSW, built 2005 · all CTSWs on the register
- Registration
- N424CT · no longer on the register · serial 05-06-02
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while in the airport traffic pattern, the airplane encountered very light turbulence. During short final approach and when the airplane was about 80 ft above ground level, the airplane suddenly encountered extreme turbulence, which the pilot described as far more violent than he had ever experienced. The airplane dropped vertically about 10 ft, suddenly entered a nose-up attitude, rolled right, and then struck the ground in a mostly nose-down attitude. Meteorological information indicated that, about the time of the accident, the atmosphere near the airport was unstable with variable light wind, warm dry air, and strong solar heating conditions, all of which are conducive to thermal activity and dust devil development. Further, several witnesses reported seeing dust devils and swirling wind in the area about the time of the accident. The pilot's report of extreme turbulence and his sudden loss of airplane control are consistent with the airplane's unexpected encounter with a dust devil.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Abrupt maneuver during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Part(s) separation from AC during post (impact)
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Dust devil/whirlwind › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 33,785 hours in all; 9,999 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,365 hours in all; 564 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 15, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 563 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 2, 2012; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 563 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKX Taos NM at 4:35 pm
- Destination: SKX Taos NM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 22, 5,803 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KSKX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.