# Accident 20151104021309A: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, New York, NY, November 4, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: November 4, 2015, 19:33 local time - Place: New York, NY - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.5472° N, 73.9214° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5472&lon=-73.9214&mi=10 - Aircraft: N622BT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N622BT-2018-03-06) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Flight Design CTLS (registry code 060005B, https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Rotax 912 series (registry code 55569, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS - Reported engine: ROTAX 912 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 236 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA031) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151104021309A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 1933HRS, A 911 CALLER STATED HE HAD OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN AIRPLANE CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN OFF BREEZY POINT, NY. THE AIRCRAFT RECOVERED, A FLIGHT DESIGN GMB CTLS, LIGHT SPORT, SINGLE ENGINE, N622BT WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 15, 2012. ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WAS THE REGISTERED OWNER AND ONLY OCCUPANT, JAMES BRADFORD MCGEE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FUELED AND DEPARTED NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT (PNE) AT APPROXIMATELY 1900HRS WITH THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF PORTSMOUTH INTERNATIONAL, NH. AT APPROXIMATELY 1933HRS RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. WITNESS OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN AIRPLANE CRASHING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH OF BREEZY POINT, NY. AT 2130HRS, IT WAS REPORTED TO THE GARDEN CITY, NY FSDO FROM THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC). THE COAST GUARD RECEIVED CALLS FROM AREA RESIDENTS THAT AIRCRAFT PARTS HAD COME ASHORE IN SAME AREA. ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT PARTS WERE ALSO DISCOVERED IN THE VICINITY OF JFK AIRPORT. RECOVERED IN THE DEBRIS FIELD, A SECTION OF THE TAIL WITH THE REGISTRATION NUMBER, N622BT AND MOST OF THE WING. THE BODY OF THE OWNER AND PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AND IDENTIFIED AS JAMES BRADFORD MCGEE. MR. MCGEE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 2336HRS BY EMS AT THE SCENE. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2015, THE NY FSDO DISPATCHED THREE TEAMS OF INSPECTORS. THE FIRST TEAM WAS DISPATCHED TO RIIS LANDING, NY WHERE ALL WRECKAGE RECOVERED HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED AND MET WITH THE NTSB SENT TO THE SCENE. THE SECOND TEAM WAS DISPATCHED TO THE PAPD (JFK) TO TAKE POSSESSION OF DEBRIS LOCATED NEAR JFK AIRPORT. THE THIRD TEAM WAS DISPATCHED WITH A TOXICOLOGY BOX FOR DELIVERY TO THE QUEENS HOSPITAL CORONER FOR RELEASE TO THE FAA CIVIL AEROSPACE MEDICAL INSTITUTE (CAMI). TEAM ONE ARRIVED AT RISS AT 1010HRS, MET WITH THE NTSB REPRESENTATIVE AND BEGAN THE INVESTIGATION OF DEBRIS RECOVERED. AT 1215HRS, TEAM ONE WENT TO THE NYPD 100 PRECINCT TO INSPECT PERSONAL ITEMS RECOVERED AT THE CRASH SITE. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2015, AIRCRAFT PARTS RECOVERED HAD BEEN MOVED TO THE NYPD AVIATION UNIT HANGAR. INCLUDED IN THE RECOVERY, THE AFT SECTION OR THE FUSELAGE, THE ENTIRE WING SECTION AND THE ENGINE WITH PROPELLER ATTACHED. ALL THREE BLADES WERE FRACTURED ABOUT MIDSECTION FROM THE PROPELLER HUB. FOUR SPARK PLUGS WERE REMOVED, APPEARED GREY IN COLOR AND EXHIBITED NORMAL WEAR. THE PROPELLER WAS ROTATED BY HAND AND THUMB COMPRESSION WAS CONFIRMED ON ALL CYLINDERS. THE ROCKER BOX COVERS WERE REMOVED TO VISUALLY CONFIRM VALVE AND CRANKSHAFT CONTINUITY. THE BALLISTIC PARACHUTE SYSTEM WAS RECOVERED. THE CHUTE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE ROCKET CHARGE WAS RECOVERED AND HAD BEEN DISCHARGED. CONTROL CABLE CONTINUITY WAS VERIFIED FROM THE COCKPIT CONTROLS TO THE RUDDER, ELEVATOR AND AILERONS. ## 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 ERA16FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA031), Nov 5, 2015: Flight Design Ctls (N622BT), Queens, NY, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control while maneuvering at low altitude, over water with no visible horizon, in dark night conditions, which… ## Other reports on N622BT (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20130605008989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130605008989A), Jun 5, 2013: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS (N622BT), Concord, NH, Substantial damage. On 6/5/2013 N622BT, a Flight Design Gmbh Ctls, light sport aircraft, departed Concord, NH to Concord, NH (con) with two souls on board, the [privacy data… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.