# NTSB CEN25LA204: Flight Design Ctsw, N499CT, Pembine, WI, June 6, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 6, 2025, 12:20 UTC - Place: Pembine, WI - Coordinates: 45.581631, -87.845396 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5816&lon=-87.8454&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA MKE FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200310 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200310/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200310 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA204 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper flare during landing which resulted in a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600001), [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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he experienced a bounce on landing that took him off-guard. When he attempted to recover, the airplane came back down on its nose wheel, which dug into the turf runway. The nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that led to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N499CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N499CT), registered now, S/N 07-03-09, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW - Registry model: [Flight Design CTSW](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (registry code 0600001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 07-03-09 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 22, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: WS25, Shangrila, runway 12/30, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KIMT, 18 nm away - METAR: METAR KIMT 061654Z AUTO 02008KT 10SM OVC100 21/08 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02060078= ## 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 20250606007489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250606007489A), Jun 6, 2025: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Beecher, WI, Substantial damage. On 6/6/2025 at 1230 CST, a Ctsw light sport aircraft, [privacy data omitted] bounced during landing causing a porpoise that collapsed the nose gear and caused… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200310. 35.9 MB in all. - Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19258909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20stmt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance entries (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 35.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19241025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20entries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19241035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=68237-Rel.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.