# Accident 20201213019349A: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Marion, NC, December 13, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 13, 2020, 10:30 local time
- Place: Marion, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.7203° N, 82.0141° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7203&lon=-82.0141&mi=10
- Aircraft: N138CT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N138CT-2022-12-31) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 41 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA073) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201213019349A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 13, 2020, N138CT ATTEMPTED TO DEPART SHIFLET FIELD (9A9) IN MARION, NC.  A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING AND INSPECTION WERE COMPLETED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE.  NO ANOMALIES OR ISSUES WERE NOTED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE CHECKLISTS.  THE PILOT LINED UP ON RUNWAY 10 AND APPLIED FULL POWER.  ALL GAUGES WERE VERIFIED NORMAL AND ?AIRSPEED ALIVE? WAS CALLED OUT.  A SOFT FIELD TAKE-OFF TECHNIQUE WAS USED BY HOLDING NOSE BACK PRESSURE FOR DEPARTURE OFF THE GRASS STRIP.  THE PILOT STATED THAT AT ABOUT 46 KTS, THE PLANE STARTED TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND AND SIMULTANEOUSLY YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN CAME BACK TO THE GROUND.  LEFT RUDDER WAS APPLIED BUT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND.  AT THAT POINT THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD.  WHEN POWER WAS REDUCED, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND DEPARTED THE GRASS STRIP INTO A DEEPER FIELD.  THE NOSE GEAR GOT CAUGHT IN A TRENCH WHICH COLLAPSED IT AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ON ITS BACK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EVACUATED WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER.

2/19/21 NTSB REVIEWED WRECKAGE - NO ISSUES NOTED WITH THE RUDDER SYSTEM.

## 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 ERA21LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA073), Dec 13, 2020: Flight Design Ctsw (N138CT), Marion, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, resulting in a rejected takeoff and runway excursion.

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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