Flight Design GMBH CTSW accident near Pembine, Wisconsin, June 6, 2025
On June 6, 2025 at about 12:20 pm local time, a 2007 Flight Design GMBH CTSW, registered N499CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Pembine, Wisconsin (Shangrila 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper flare during landing which resulted in a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2025 · about 12:20 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Pembine, Wisconsin · Shangrila · cases near this 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 CTSW, built 2007 · all CTSWs on the register
- Registration
- N499CT · registry record · serial 07-03-09
- 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 he experienced a bounce on landing that took him off-guard. When he attempted to recover, the airplane came back down on its nose wheel, which dug into the turf runway. The nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that led to the accident.
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
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 22, 2023
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12/3, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KIMT, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIMT 061654Z AUTO 02008KT 10SM OVC100 21/08 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02060078=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane at accident site
Photograph 2 – Left front view of airplane after being turned upright
Photograph 3 – Left rear view of airplane after being turned uprightThe 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 September 26, 2025. 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 Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Entries | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 4 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N499CT on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Flight Design Gmbh CTSW 181 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS 62 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Shangrila Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Wisconsin 1,622 since 1982 · 226 in the last ten years
- Wisconsin 6,164 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN25LA204.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.