# NTSB ERA25LA021: Flight Design Ctsw, N109CT, Sanford, ME, October 17, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 17, 2024, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Sanford, ME · SFM Airport - Coordinates: 43.39669, -70.70513 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3967&lon=-70.7051&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195371/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195371 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/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 The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane following a local flight, and the wind was reported as light and variable. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline and the pilot corrected with right rudder. The airplane then turned sharply to the right, the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane departed the runway to the right. The nose landing gear collapsed, the wings contacted the ground, and the airplane came to a stop, upright. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the wreckage and reported substantial damage to the wing roots and upper fuselage. They also examined the nose landing gear, nose tire, and nose wheel steering system and found no evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N109CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N109CT), registered now, S/N 04-12-05, 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 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 04-12-05 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 732 - Engines: Rotax ULS 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 18, 2024, 38 hours before - Airport: SFM, Sanford Seacoast Regional, runway 32, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 3, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 137 total, 36 in this make and model, 86 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KSFM - METAR: METAR KSFM 172156Z AUTO 27003KT 10SM CLR 09/03 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP229 T00940028 ## 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 20241017016949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241017016949A), Oct 17, 2024: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Sanford, ME, Substantial damage. The pilot attempted a landing on runway 32. After touchdown, the aircraft veered to the left at which time the pilot applied right rudder. The aircraft veered… ## Other investigations on N109CT (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI06CA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA226), Aug 10, 2006: Flight Design Ctsw (N109CT), Hillsdale, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged flare which resulted in the hard landing and his improper recovery from the bounced landing which resulted in the overload failure of the nose landing gear and subsequent nose… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195371. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17998265&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA examination of nosewheel steering and rudder linkage (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18000088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20NTSB%20MOR%20FAA%20Inspector%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17998147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Investigation%20Photographs-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.