NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On March 18, 2009, at 1353 eastern daylight time, a special light sport aircraft (SLSA) Flight Design CTLS, N471CT, collided with terrain during an aborted landing to runway 25 at Sky Manor Airport (N40), Pittstown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot said that he checked the windsock prior to landing, and that the winds were "pretty much down the runway." After touchdown, with the engine at idle power, the left wing "lifted," and the airplane began a turn to the right which could not be corrected with rudder and aileron. The pilot added power to abort the landing, which corrected the turning tendency. The propeller then struck the ground, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway, striking the left wing tip, and collapsing the gear during the accident sequence.

In a subsequent statement, the pilot added that the damage to the airplane was consistent with the airplane's propeller and nose landing gear striking a runway light stanchion during the aborted landing.

The pilot stated that this was the seventh landing of the day, and that all previous landings were "normal."

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records revealed the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot was issued a second-class medical certificate on May 21, 2008.

The pilot reported 3,257 total hours of flight experience, 734 hours of which were in single engine airplanes, and 9.5 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model. The pilot's most recent flight review was completed November 24, 2008, in a Flight Design CTLS.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

According to the pilot and FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 2008, and had accrued 48.8 total aircraft hours. It was on an annual inspection program, and the most recent 25-hour inspection was completed November 19, 2008.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1353, the weather reported at Somerset Airport (SMQ), Somerville, New Jersey, 15 miles east of the accident site, included clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and wind from 200 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The temperature was 16 degrees Celsius (C), and the dew point was 6 degrees C.

At 1353, the weather reported at Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN), Trenton, New Jersey, 19 miles southeast of the accident site, included winds from 230 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The wreckage was examined by an FAA inspector, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. The examination revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. Photographs of the wreckage revealed damage to the propeller blades, the left main landing gear, and left wing tip.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

On March 29, 2009, the pilot responded to a Safety Board questionnaire regarding light sport airplanes. When commenting on the flight characteristics of the accident airplane, he stated, "Flight characteristics of the CTLS I would describe as normal overall, except for the landing aspects. It has seemed to be quite common to require a sideslip of the aircraft on just about all landings so as to manage descent and speed. [An] over the numbers speed of + 56 knots takes this aircraft on a float trip down the runway. Both my flying partner and I said from day one that it is a fun aircraft to fly and we really enjoyed it. But it is not an ‘easy' plane to land. The combination of a light aircraft, high wing, and a very narrow/tight landing gear causes a different characteristic and one that cannot be managed lightly."

According to a "Warning" in the manufacturer's Aircraft Operating Instructions, "Take-off and landing with crosswinds require a lot of training and experience. The greater the crosswind component, the more experience required."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing.