# NTSB WPR14CA364: Flight Design Ctls LSA, N245LS, Grass Valley, CA, September 3, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2014, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Grass Valley, CA - Coordinates: 39.224166, -121.002777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2242&lon=-121.0028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 90010 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90010/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90010 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA364 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate flare which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during landing. ## 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: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on landing the airplane touched down hard and began to porpoise, striking the runway twice during the accident sequence. The pilot reported a loss of nose wheel and rudder control responsiveness and was unable to maintain directional control when the airplane departed the runway to the right, traveled down an embankment and subsequently rolled over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing, vertical stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that on landing the airplane touched down hard and began to porpoise, striking the runway twice during the accident sequence. The pilot reported a loss of nose wheel and rudder control responsiveness and was unable to maintain directional control when the airplane departed the runway to the right, traveled down an embankment and subsequently rolled over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing, vertical stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N245LS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N245LS-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N F-08-05-12, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS LSA (NO SERIES) - 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-08-05-12 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 499 - Engines: ROTAX 912 ULS 2 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2014 - Departed: GOO, Grass Valley, CA - Destination: GOO, Grass Valley, CA - Airport: GOO, Nevada County Air Park, runway 25, 4,351 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 410 total, 331 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KGOO ## 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 20140903016609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140903016609A), Sep 3, 2014: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Grass Valley, CA, Substantial damage. On September 3, 2014 at approximately 12:10PM PDT a Flight design Ctls light sport aircraft, N245LS, veered off the runway, hit a levee, and flipped after a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90010. 954 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 954 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416971&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. --- 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.