Flight Design GMBH CTLS accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, March 18, 2009
On March 18, 2009 at about 5:53 pm local time, a Flight Design GMBH CTLS, registered N471CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Pittstown, New Jersey (Sky Manor 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 inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2009 · about 5:53 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Sky Manor 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 CTLS · all CTLSs on the register
- Registration
- N471CT · registry record · serial 08 03 04
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he checked the windsock prior to landing and that the winds were "pretty much down the runway." After touchdown, with the engine at idle power, the left wing "lifted" and the airplane began a turn to the right that could not be corrected with rudder and aileron. The pilot added power to abort the landing, which corrected the turning tendency. The propeller and nose landing gear then struck a runway light stanchion and then the ground. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, striking the left wing tip and collapsing the left gear. The winds reported at two different airports near the landing site ranged from between 20 to 50 degrees with speeds between 11 and 15 knots, gusting to 18 to 21 knots. The pilot reported that "The combination of a light aircraft, high wing, and a very narrow/tight landing gear causes a different [landing] characteristic and one that cannot be managed lightly."
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
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,257 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,763 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 2008; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N40 Pittstown NJ at 5:30 pm
- Destination: N40 Pittstown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from SMQ, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.