Flight Design CTSW accident near Marion, North Carolina, December 13, 2020
On December 13, 2020 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 2007 Flight Design CTSW, registered N138CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Marion, North Carolina (Shiflet Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, resulting in a rejected takeoff and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2020 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, North Carolina · Shiflet Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design CTSW, built 2007
- Registration
- N138CT · no longer on the register · serial 07-09-25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were departing for a cross-country flight in calm wind conditions. Shortly after liftoff, at an airspeed of about 46 knots, the airplane suddenly yawed to the right and came back down on the runway. The pilot elected to reject the takeoff. The airplane continued to veer to the right, and the airplane departed the runway and entered an area of soft terrain. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Following the accident, the pilot thought that the rudder had malfunctioned. However, examination of the flight controls revealed no evidence of a preaccident malfunction or anomaly. Thus, the pilot likely did not maintain yaw control of the airplane during the takeoff.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,851 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 29, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 491 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2020; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS2 (piston); 491 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FFT Frankfort KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,340 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from FQD, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFQD 131555Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT011 14/11 A3012 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on September 30, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Examination Summary | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weight and Balance Data | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.
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.