- Date
- May 13, 2009, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Mitchell, SD
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N433CTFlight Design CT2K
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Rapid City FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090513012569A
- Case key
- 73862
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting winds during landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that as he approached the destination airport he listened to the automated weather conditions. The reported conditions included winds from 290 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 35 knots. The pilot stated that he flew an extended downwind to Runway 30 in order to ensure runway alignment. On final approach, he increased his speed and used less flap extension to allow for the gusting wind conditions. He stated that when the airplane was about to touch down, a gust of wind raised the airplane into the air and then the airplane dropped abruptly to the runway. When the airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions of the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that as he approached the destination airport he listened to the automated weather conditions. The reported conditions included winds from 290 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 35 knots. The pilot stated that he flew an extended downwind to Runway 30 in order to ensure runway alignment. On final approach, he increased his speed and used less flap extension to allow for the gusting wind conditions. He stated that when the airplane was about to touch down, a gust of wind raised the airplane into the air and then the airplane dropped abruptly to the runway. When the airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N433CT
- Reported as
- Flight Design CT2K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 02.08.04.33
- Airframe hours
- 449
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 3, 2009
- Departed
- MN65 · Maple Plain, MN
- Destination
- MHE · Mitchell, SD
- Airport
- MHE · Mitchell Municipal Airport, runway 30, 6,700 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 527 total · 130 in this make and model · 525 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 290° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- MHE
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 519 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N433CT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.