Flight Design GMBH CTSW accident near Delaware, Ohio, September 24, 2008
On September 24, 2008 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Flight Design GMBH CTSW, registered N63DH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Delaware, Ohio (Delaware Municipal airport). 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 during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2008 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Delaware, Ohio · Delaware Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CTSW · all CTSWs on the register
- Registration
- N63DH · no longer on the register · serial 07-06-20
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings on a solo flight when the accident occurred. He had successfully completed one landing. After touchdown on the second landing, the airplane began to oscillate from side to side. The student pilot's efforts to regain directional control were not successful. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the right wing tip subsequently struck the ground. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest nose down in the grass adjacent to the runway. A postaccident inspection of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies associated with a preimpact failure.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 14, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS; 0 hours total
- Operator: Flying Pig Express LLC
The flight
- Departed from: DLZ Delaware OH at 10:45 pm
- Destination: DLZ Delaware OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 pm from DLZ
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.