No fatalities

10 Aug 2011: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS — Clear Skies Flying Club — Ankeny, IA

Ankeny, IA, United States

On 10 Aug 2011, a FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS operated by Clear Skies Flying Club was involved in an aviation accident near Ankeny, IA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot misjudged the flare and inadvertently made a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a hard landing after misjudging the flare during final approach, causing substantial damage to the firewall. No mechanical failures were noted.

Accident Details

A pilot returned from a local flight and entered the airport traffic pattern without any issues. The airplane was configured for landing, and the final approach appeared normal. However, during the landing flare, the pilot misjudged the maneuver, resulting in an inadvertent hard landing. The impact caused substantial damage to the firewall.

The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. The landing was otherwise routine until the misjudged flare led to the hard touchdown.

Damage and Findings

The hard landing resulted in significant structural damage to the firewall. No other damage or injuries were reported. The pilot’s account indicates that the event was solely due to a misjudgment during the landing flare, with no contributory mechanical issues.

Pilot Report

The pilot, who returned from a local flight, reported that the approach and initial landing setup were normal. The error occurred during the flare, where the pilot misjudged the altitude or timing, leading to a hard landing. The pilot emphasized that the airplane had no prior failures or malfunctions.

Probable cause

The pilot misjudged the flare and inadvertently made a hard landing.

Contributing factors

PilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintained