# NTSB CEN12CA603: Flight Design Ctls, N995LS, Pittsford, MI, August 31, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 31, 2012, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Pittsford, MI - Coordinates: 41.861946, -84.458335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8619&lon=-84.4583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - East Michigan FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA603 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84920/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84920 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA603 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while maneuvering at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The 15-hour student pilot was making a low pass over a relative’s private airstrip when the accident occurred. The student stated that on the first low pass he used 15-degrees of flaps. He stated that he used 30-degrees of flaps during the second low pass and the airplane “pitched” to the left when he added power to go around. He was unable to correct the loss of directional control, and the airplane’s left wing contacted trees and separated from the airplane before it impacted the ground. The closest weather reporting station located 7 miles northwest of the accident site reported the wind was from the southwest at 7 knots and the landing was being made to the south. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The 15-hour student pilot was making a low pass over a relative’s private airstrip when the accident occurred. The student stated that on the first low pass he used 15-degrees of flaps. He stated he used 30-degrees of flaps during the second low pass and the airplane “pitched” to the left when he added power to go-around. He was unable to correct the loss of directional control and the left wing contacted trees alongside the airstrip prior to the airplane impacting the ground. The closest weather reporting station located 7 miles northwest of the accident site reported the winds were from the southwest at 7 knots and the landing was being made to the south. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes after the accident, the winds were from the west at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N995LS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N995LS-2012-11-16), registration cancelled 2012-11-16, S/N F-10-07-12, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS - Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-10-07-12 - Airframe hours: 414 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hillsdale Aero Inc - Registered owner: Hillsdale Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 13, 2012, 58 hours before - Departed: KJYM, Hillsdale, MI - Destination: KJYM, Hillsdale, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; student; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: JYM, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120831021039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120831021039A), Aug 31, 2012: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Pittsford, MI, Destroyed. The pilot departed hillsdale airport (kjym) at approx. 815 a.m. local time. The intention was a local, solo training Flight. The pilot departed the area sse… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84920. 674 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 612 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377503&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.