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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 2015 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 2015
- Place
- Hanford, California · Hanford Muni · cases near this 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
- 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
9 documents, released by the NTSB on March 4, 2015. 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 | Record of Conversation – Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 – View of Engine Strut (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 – View of Engine Strut (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 3 – View of Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 4 – View of Firewall Damage Inside the Cockpit (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 5 – View of Strut and Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 6 – View of Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 7 – View of Aircraft Exterior (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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N559KC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Flight Design Gmbh CTLS 142 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Rotax 012 · as the NTSB recorded it
- Hanford Municipal · nearest airport
- Porterville Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,069 since 1982 · 1,088 in the last ten years
- California 27,610 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR15CA093.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.