# NTSB CEN25LA238: Flight Design Ctsw, N646MA, Joliet, IL, July 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 5, 2025, 14:32 local (19:32 UTC) - Place: Joliet, IL - Coordinates: 41.517884, -88.175957 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5179&lon=-88.1760&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Greater Chicago FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200476 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200476/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200476 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA238 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the crosswind landing. ## 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 · 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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he conducted a straight in approach to runway 31. The pilot stated that he chose runway 31 because the intersecting grass runway (4/22) was closed due to blimp operations that were being conducted on the airfield. Shortly after touchdown, a sudden gust of wind relaunched the airplane into the air. The pilot stated that the wind gust was so strong that he could not keep the airplane aligned with the runway. The airplane settled onto the runway and exited the paved runway surface to the left. The nose landing gear dug into the soft ground and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The reported wind was from 210° at 13 kts, gusting to 18 kts. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N646MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N646MA), registered now, S/N 05-11-07, built 2005 (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 SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 05-11-07 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 662 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 4, 2024 - Departed: 40C, Watervliet, MI - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: JOT, Joliet Rgnl, runway 13/31, 2,821 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,262 total, 3,262 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KJOT - METAR: METAR KJOT 051915Z AUTO 21013G18KT 180V260 10SM SCT060 SCT090 34/19 A2999 RMK AO2 T03360189= ## 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 20250705010249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250705010249A), Jul 5, 2025: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Joliet, IL, Substantial damage. On July 05, 2025, the pilot in command (PIC) landed the aircraft on runway 31 at Joliet Regional Airport (kjot). A gust of air pushed the aircraft to the left… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200476. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19216447&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_1_Form-2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19216578&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.