# NTSB WPR09CA346: Flight Design Ctsw, N199CT, Sulphur Creek, ID, July 10, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2009, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Sulphur Creek, ID
- Coordinates: 44.539722, -115.370002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5397&lon=-115.3700&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 September 30, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74297
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA346
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74297/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74297
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA346

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## 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)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After touching down on the remote rough gravel airstrip, the pilot applied what he described as "hard braking" with the non-differential handbrake, while attempting to maintain directional control with the nose wheel steering. As the pilot continued the landing roll, the airplane began to skid/slip off to the left side of the convex shaped runway crown, and it eventually exited the runway and impacted a large rock pile. After hitting the rock pile, the airplane nosed over onto its back, resulting in damage to the wings, and the rudder separating from its hinges.

## Factual narrative

After touching down on the remote rough gravel airstrip, the pilot applied what he described as "hard braking" with the non-differential handbrake, while attempting to maintain directional control with the nose wheel steering. As the pilot continued the landing roll, the airplane began to skid/slip off to the left side of the convex shaped runway crown, and it eventually exited the runway and impacted a large rock pile. After hitting the rock pile, the airplane nosed over onto its back, resulting in damage to the wings, and the rudder separating from its hinges.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N199CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N199CT-2014-06-03), registration cancelled 2014-06-03, S/N 06-12-22, 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: 06-12-22
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Heller Roger W
- Registered owner: Heller Roger W
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed: KMYL, McCall, ID
- Destination: ID74, Sulphur Creek, ID
- Airport: ID74, Sulphur Creek Ranch, runway 28, 3,300 × 40 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 500 total, 365 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20090710012889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090710012889A), Jul 10, 2009: Amtr CTSW, Yellow Pine, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot did not maintain directional control during landing. The aircraft veered to the side of runway and hit a pile of rocks. Substantial damage to the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74297. 632 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 632 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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