No fatalities

31 Aug 2012: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS — HILLSDALE AERO INC — Pittsford, MI

Pittsford, MI, United States

On 31 Aug 2012, a FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS operated by HILLSDALE AERO INC was involved in an aviation accident near Pittsford, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while maneuvering at a low altitude. 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 student pilot with 15 hours of flight experience lost directional control while performing a low pass over a relative's private airstrip, resulting in the left wing contacting trees and the airplane impacting the ground.

Accident Sequence

A student pilot, who had accumulated approximately 15 hours of flight time, was conducting low passes over a relative's private airstrip. During the first low pass, the pilot used 15 degrees of flaps. On the second low pass, he selected 30 degrees of flaps. As he added power to initiate a go-around, the airplane pitched to the left. The pilot was unable to regain directional control. Subsequently, the left wing contacted trees alongside the airstrip before the airplane impacted the ground.

Weather Information

The closest weather reporting station, located 7 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, reported winds from the southwest at 7 knots at the time of the accident. The landing was being made to the south. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes after the accident, the winds were from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots.

Aircraft and Pilot Information

The pilot was a student pilot with 15 hours of flight time. No further details about the aircraft, such as type or registration, were provided in the source.

The accident occurred during a low pass over a private airstrip owned by a relative. The specific location and date of the accident were not disclosed.

Contributing factors

Student pilot