Flight Design GMBH CTLS accident near Hanford, California, January 25, 2015
On January 25, 2015 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Flight Design GMBH CTLS, registered N559KC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hanford, California (Hanford Muni airport). It was a business 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 flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 2015 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hanford, California · Hanford Muni · 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
- N559KC · registry record · serial F-14-07-03
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was on a straight-in approach for landing during touchdown; the airplane landed hard and bounced. The pilot attempted to land the airplane for the second time; however, the airplane's nose dropped, resulting in a second bounce. The pilot made a decision to go around and added power. During the takeoff, the airplane bounced again and then lifted off. The second landing attempt resulted in another hard landing. The pilot initiated another go-around and landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had more experience flying this type and model of an airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 4,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 012 (piston); 28 hours total
- Operator: Kings County Ca Sheriff
The flight
- Departed from: PTV Porterville CA
- Destination: HJO Hanford CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,179 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from KHJO, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.