# NTSB WPR24LA297: Flight Design Ctls, N116MJ, Saint Johns, AZ, September 1, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 1, 2024, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Saint Johns, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.518785, -109.37754 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5188&lon=-109.3775&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195071/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA297

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare that resulted in a hard 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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that following a local area flight he was coming back to land at his home airport. He performed a normal traffic pattern for a full stop landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced four times, which increased in intensity before he was able to add power and get the airplane airborne. The airplane flew about 20 ft before the pilot landed again without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N116MJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N116MJ), registered now, S/N F-13-03-07, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS
- Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912IS2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912is2) (registry code 55590, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: F-13-03-07
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 678.6
- Engines: Rotax 912iS2 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 2024, 643.5 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SJN, St. Johns Industrial AIrpark, runway 32, 5,322 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; sport pilot; medical: basicmed; last flight review January 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 197.3 total, 148.6 in this make and model, 154.7 as pilot in command, 22.8 in the last 90 days, 7.4 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observed at: KSOW, 35 nm away
- METAR: KSOW 011455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/06 A3036 RMK AO2

## 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 20240901012129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240901012129A), Sep 1, 2024: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, St. Johns, AZ, Minor damage. Pilot landing at sjn airport runway 32 bounced twice. Landed at about a 45 degree angle and taxied back to hanger.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195071. 4.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18481364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_1%20with%20Ammendment_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18493932&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR24LA297-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.

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