# NTSB ERA11CA193: Flight Design Ctsw, N470Q, Pittstown, NJ, March 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 8, 2011, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Pittstown, NJ - Coordinates: 40.559444, -74.974166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5594&lon=-74.9742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78587 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78587/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78587 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA193 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate flare and the certified flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard 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: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to practice landings. As the student began to flare for landing, the airspeed decreased and the airplane stalled about 3 to 5 feet above the ground. The airplane impacted the runway hard on the right main landing gear and bounced. The student pilot applied full engine power and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, traveled up an embankment, and the left wing impacted the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The CFI reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to practice landings. As the student pilot began to flare for landing, the airspeed decreased and the airplane "stall[ed] about 3 to 5 feet above the ground," impacted the runway "hard" on the right main landing gear, and bounced. The student pilot applied full power, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, traveled up an embankment, and the left wing impacted the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing tip and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N470Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N470Q-2011-12-06), registration cancelled 2011-12-06, S/N 07-07-02, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN 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: 07-07-02 - Airframe hours: 184 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dominick Bonanno - Registered owner: Dominick Bonanno - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 11, 2011 - Departed: N40, Pittstown, NJ - Destination: N40, Pittstown, NJ - Airport: N40, Aky Manor Airport, runway 07, 2,900 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 6,798 total, 38 in this make and model, 6,662 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 61; injuries: none; student; seat: left; flight hours: 176 total, 176 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.51 inHg - Observed at: SMQ, 15 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78587. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports: SMQ METARs (item 2, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346059&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%3A%20SMQ%20METARs-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (4) (item 3, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20(4)-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.