Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pittsford, Michigan 49271
Friday, August 31, 2012 8:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 15-hour student pilot was making a low pass over a relative’s private airstrip when the accident occurred. The student stated that on the first low pass he used 15-degrees of flaps. He stated that he used 30-degrees of flaps during the second low pass and the airplane “pitched” to the left when he added power to go around. He was unable to correct the loss of directional control, and the airplane’s left wing contacted trees and separated from the airplane before it impacted the ground. The closest weather reporting station located 7 miles northwest of the accident site reported the wind was from the southwest at 7 knots and the landing was being made to the south. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while maneuvering at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Pittsford
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49271
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415143N
Event Location Longitude 0842730W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 834 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 306
Weather Observation Facility ID JYM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1184
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30601
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 1 2012 3:44PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N995LS
NTSB Number CEN12CA603
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH
Aircraft Model CTLS
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number F-10-07-12
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jul 13 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 58
Airframe Hours 414
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HILLSDALE AERO INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 238
Aircraft Owner City HILLSDALE
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49242-0238
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HILLSDALE AERO INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 238
Operator City HILLSDALE
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49242-0238
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KJYM
Departure City Hillsdale
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KJYM
Destination City Hillsdale
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 21 2012 3:42PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --