Flight Design GMBH CTLS LSA accident near Grass Valley, California, September 3, 2014
On September 3, 2014 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 2008 Flight Design GMBH CTLS LSA, registered N245LS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Grass Valley, California (Nevada County Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate flare which resulted in a loss of aircraft 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 3, 2014 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada County Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Flight Design GMBH CTLS LSA NO SERIES, built 2008
- Registration
- N245LS · no longer on the register · serial F-08-05-12
- 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 on landing the airplane touched down hard and began to porpoise, striking the runway twice during the accident sequence. The pilot reported a loss of nose wheel and rudder control responsiveness and was unable to maintain directional control when the airplane departed the runway to the right, traveled down an embankment and subsequently rolled over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing, vertical stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Roll over 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 › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 410 hours in all; 331 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 410 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 499 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS 2 (piston); 499 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GOO Grass Valley CA at 4:50 pm
- Destination: GOO Grass Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,351 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KGOO
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.