Flight Design GMBH CTSW HXB accident near Sealy, Texas, June 15, 2016
On June 15, 2016 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2007 Flight Design GMBH CTSW HXB, registered N302CT, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Sealy, Texas (Gloster Aerodrome airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of maintenance personnel to comply with the engine manufacturer’s mandatory service bulletin, which resulted in failure of the mechanical fuel pump diaphragm and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2016 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sealy, Texas · Gloster Aerodrome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CTSW HXB, built 2007
- Registration
- N302CT · no longer on the register · serial 07-06-06
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb on an instructional flight, the light sport airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor initiated a 180-degree turn back toward the airport; however, the airplane impacted trees to the right of the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the mechanical fuel pump diaphragm had deteriorated and was leaking fuel. A serviceable fuel pump was installed, and the engine operated normally and produced full power during a subsequent test run. The fuel pump was subject to a mandatory service bulletin (SB) issued by the manufacturer about 3 years before the accident. The SB required replacement of the fuel pump at the next scheduled maintenance due to instances of mechanical failure. Although the accident airplane had received three annual inspections between the issuance of the SB and the accident flight, the fuel pump was not replaced at any of these inspections.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Maintenance personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 8, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2016; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 200 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1XA7 Houston TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: KAXH Arcola TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,450 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KTME, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on December 1, 2016. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination Report from Jordan Paskevich, Rotax Engines | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Logbook | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt from Bombardier Recreational Products Maintenance Manual | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Rotax Service Bulletin SB-912-053-UL, Dated April 13,2007 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Rotax Service Bulletin SB-912-063-UL, Dated August 21, 2013 | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Report Photos | 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.