Pilot Debrief

FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS near Fort Myers, FL — 2010-02-07

Final reportERA10CA137
Sign in to save
Date
2010-02-07
Location
Fort Myers, FL, USA
Airport
FMY
Aircraft
FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS
Registration
N772CT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot of the special light-sport airplane stated that he had performed six touch-and-go landings with his certified flight instructor (CFI), and at the completion, his instructor approved him for solo flight. He obtained the automated terminal information service, which indicated the wind was from 320 degrees at 10 knots, and he taxied to runway 31. He began the takeoff roll and felt that the airplane was being pushed from the left. He corrected with rudder input and felt as though he was being pushed back to the right, even though he had corrective rudder input. He applied left rudder input again, but the airplane went off the runway and contacted the ground, nosing over. The student exited the inverted airplane and was not injured. The student’s CFI, who was watching the takeoff, reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane began veering towards the left side of the runway. Briefly, the CFI saw the nose and left main landing gear off the runway about 6 to 12 inches, before seeing them contact the runway surface. The CFI further reported that while on the ground the airplane then collided with a taxiway sign, causing the airplane to nose over. Postaccident inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Student pilot could have aborted the takeoff when feeling control issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

Related mishaps