# Accident 20150418004899A: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Middletown, RI, April 18, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2015, 11:51 local time
- Place: Middletown, RI
- Airport: Newport State Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5333° N, 71.2819° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5333&lon=-71.2819&mi=10
- Aircraft: N684CT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N684CT-2015-07-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Flight Design CTSW (registry code 0600001, https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 48 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150418004899A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT OF N684CT WAS OBSERVED LANDING ON RUNWAY 34 WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND.  THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR, THEN EXITED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT AND FLIPPED OVER.  ANOTHER EYEWITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT LANDING ON RUNWAY 34 BUT DID NOT REPORT SEEING THE TOUCHDOWN.  THE EYEWITNESS NEXT NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT IN THE GRASS UPSIDE DOWN LEFT OF RUNWAY 34.  UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE THE PILOT (SOLE PERSON ON BOARD) WAS EXITING THE AIRCRAFT.  HE REPORTED A LEFT CROSSWIND GUST PICKED THE WING UP ON ROLLOUT AND CONTROL WAS LOST.  AS THE AIRCRAFT EXITED LEFT OF THE RUNWAY THE NOSE GEAR SANK IN THE SOFT GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP UPSIDE DOWN.  THE METAR FOR KUUU AT 1453Z INDICATED:  181453Z AUTO 28004KT 10SM CLR 17/07/ A2995.  PRELIMINARY EXTERIOR INSPECTION INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING DAMAGE:  (1) THE ROTAX ENGINE REQUIRES GEARBOX CHANGE AFTER SUDDEN STOPPAGE; (2) PROPELLERS AND NOSE ASSEMBLY DESTROYED; (3) SPLIT NEAR THE LEFT WING ROOT EXTENDING FROM THE TRAILING EDGE  FORWARD OF THE FLAP ATTACHMENT; (4) OUTER PORTION OF THE LEFT WING CRUSHED/DESTROYED; (5) NOSE WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISLODGED; (6) LOWER PORTION OF NOSE COWLING PARTIALLY SEPARATED; (7) PILOT?S WINDOW MISSING; (8) RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE EXHIBITS EXTENDED SPLIT IN CARBON FIBER; (9) RIGHT WING TIP EXHIBITS CARBON FIBER SEPARATION; AND (10) RUDDER DETACHED FROM ATTACH POINT HINGE WITH CARBON FIBER DAMAGE.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL LEAK.  THE PRELIMINARY INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY THE FBO MECHANIC.  A FAA BOSTON FSDO AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015 AND REPORTED TO THE IIC THAT THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA15CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA045), Apr 18, 2015: Flight Design Ctsw (N684CT), Newport, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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