Flight Design CTLS accident near Concord, New Hampshire, June 5, 2013
On June 5, 2013 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Flight Design CTLS, registered N622BT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Concord, New Hampshire (Concord Municipal 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 landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent main landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2013 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, New Hampshire · Concord Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design CTLS
- Registration
- N622BT · no longer on the register · serial 11-11-05
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to pilot, he flew the visual approach at the 55-knot normal airspeed as prescribed by the airplane owner's manual. The pilot stated that during the flare, the airplane lost lift and impacted the runway. During rollout on the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane ground looped 180 degrees, and came to rest on the right side of runway 35. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear attachment point and the engine firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 320 degrees at 7 knots.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 29, 2012
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 73 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 2013; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Brn-Powertrain Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CON Concord NH at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CON Concord NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 6,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Observation at 5:51 pm from CON
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 24, 2013. 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 | Pilot Phone Interview with NTSB Iic. | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photograph # 1: Damaged Right Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photograph # 2: Damaged Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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 N622BT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.