Flight Design GMBH CTSW accident near Lewisville, Texas, July 28, 2024
On July 28, 2024 at about 7:13 pm local time, a 2006 Flight Design GMBH CTSW, registered N414FS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Lewisville, Texas (Lakeview Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with water. Contributing to the accident were crosswind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2024 · about 7:13 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Lewisville, Texas · Lakeview Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CTSW, built 2006 · all CTSWs on the register
- Registration
- N414FS · no longer on the register · serial 06-12-17
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful cross-country flight, the pilot checked the weather and then set up for a straight in approach for his destination airport. On final, the airplane floated in ground effect over the runway and the airplane touched down flat with minimal flare. During rollout, within a moment of having 3 wheels on the ground, a large gust of wind picked up the airplane’s right wing and turned the airplane toward some trees on the side of the runway. The pilot was not able to correct the turn, so he added power and executed a go-around. The pilot attempted to clear trees beyond the departure end of the runway, and the airplane stalled. The airplane descended and impacted into a lake adjacent to the end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite firewall. A crosswind component of 15 knots and wind gusts of 23 knots were reported about the time of the accident. After the accident, the pilot stated that he should have diverted to another airport due to the combination of wind, gusts, and obstacles adjacent to the runway.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 182 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 243 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 16, 2024; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS 2 (piston); 243 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LMO Longmont CO at 1:24 pm
- Destination: 30F Lake Dallas TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 2,815 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 41 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KDTO, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDTO 281853Z 19015G23 10SM FEW041 33/22 A2998 RMK A02 PK WND19028/1817
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 22, 2024. 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN24LA292 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Video of Landing and Go Around CEN24LA292 | video | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs CEN24LA292 | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N414FS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N414FS: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Flight Design Gmbh CTSW 181 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS 2 209 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lakeview Airport · nearest airport
- Vance Brand Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N414FS 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA292.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.