# NTSB LAX07CA089: Flight Design Ctsw, N7722D, Nampa, ID, February 17, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 17, 2007, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Nampa, ID
- Coordinates: 43.58139, -116.523056
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5814&lon=-116.5231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65320
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65320/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA089

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudged flare and improper use of the elevator flight control.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - fuselage,firewall - cracked
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuselage,firewall - overload
  - elevator - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane touched down hard and bounced, which overloaded and cracked the light sport airplane's firewall.  The student pilot reported that he misjudged the landing flare and overreacted by pushing the elevator control stick too far forward.  There were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On February 17, 2007, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Flight Design GMBH, model CTSW, N7722D, made a hard bounced landing on runway 11L at the Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho.  Upon the airplane's subsequent examination, its engine mount was observed bent and the firewall was found cracked.  The light sport airplane was substantially damaged.  The student pilot, who owned and operated the airplane during the solo instructional flight, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Nampa about 1330.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the airplane bounced at least two times off its nose gear.  This occurred when he "overreacted" during the landing flare by pushing the airplane's elevator control stick too far forward.  The student pilot also stated to the Safety Board investigator that the accident was "completely my fault."  There were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7722D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7722D), registered now, S/N 06-10-07, built 2006 (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: 06-10-07
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: David F. Hills
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed: S67, Nampa, ID
- Destination: S67, Nampa, ID
- Airport: S67, Nampa, runway 11, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 55; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observed at: BOI, 13 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).

- [Incident 20070217002069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070217002069I), Feb 17, 2007: Amtr CTSW, Nampa, ID, Minor damage. (-23) A student on a solo flight made a hard landing. The nose gear partially collapsed.

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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