# NTSB GAA20CA032: Flight Design Ctls, N771TX, Monument Valley, UT, October 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 17, 2019, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Monument Valley, UT - Coordinates: 37.016666, -110.200553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0167&lon=-110.2006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100449/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100449 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control and to attain adequate altitude during takeoff with a quartering tailwind in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in impact with a sandy berm left of the runway. ## 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 CTLS, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during takeoff with a quartering tailwind of 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots, and as soon as the wheels lifted off, the airplane's tail was pushed to the left. He straightened the tail and maintained wings-level flight; however, the airplane continued drifting left. The pilot reported that, due to the tailwind and high altitude, the airplane was getting very little lift. The airplane subsequently impacted a sandy berm off the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The sport pilot reported that during takeoff with a quartering tailwind of 10 knots, gusting up to 20 knots, as soon as the wheels left the pavement, the tail was pushed to the left. He straightened the tail and maintained wings level; however, the airplane was drifting to the left. The pilot reported that due to the tailwind and high altitude, he was getting very little lift. The airplane subsequently contacted sandy terrain on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N771TX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N771TX-2022-08-30), registration cancelled 2022-08-30, S/N F-10-01-03, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Flight Design CTLS (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-10-01-03 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 756.3 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2019 - Departed: UT25, Monument Valley, UT - Destination: PGA, Page, AZ - Airport: UT25, Monument Valley, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 13, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 201 total, 116 in this make and model, 143 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Observed at: KBDG, 48 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 20191017020169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191017020169A), Oct 17, 2019: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Monument Valley, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot was 1 of 10 aircraft flying together. They were taking off from runway 4 at UT25 (Monument Valley), heading to paige AZ. The pilot was number 4 of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100449. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.