# NTSB DEN07CA120: Flight Design Ctsw, N108EM, Peyton, CO, July 4, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2007, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Peyton, CO
- Coordinates: 38.945556, -104.569725
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9456&lon=-104.5697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Denver, Colorado
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66247
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66247/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA120

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare and failure to maintain control and subsequent hard landing.  Contributing factors in this accident were the gusty winds, hot temperature, and high density altitude.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - temperature,high (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot said he made a normal approach to runway 33 but flared too high, causing the airplane to drop hard on the runway.  He said there were gusty winds and the temperature was "hot."  He also noted that he was "not familiar [with] high altitude [operations]."

## Factual narrative

The pilot said he made a normal approach to runway 33 but he flared too high, causing the airplane to drop hard on the runway.  He said there were gusty winds and the temperature was "hot."  He also noted that he was "not familiar [with] high altitude [operations]."  There was damage to the landing gear and supporting structure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N108EM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N108EM), registered now, S/N 06-08-07 (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: 06-08-07
- Engines: Rotax 945 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Theodore F. McKee
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed: LMR, Lamar, CO
- Destination: 00V, Falcon, CO
- Airport: 00V, Meadow Lake, runway 33, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 80 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: COS, 33 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 20070704014469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070704014469A), Jul 4, 2007: Amtr CTSW, Colorado Sprin, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Upon landing, the aircraft porpoised and bounced down the runway. In attempts to get the aircraft on the ground, a hard landing resulted causing damage…

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.

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