Flight CTLS N995LS

Summary

On 31 August 2012 at about 12:30 local time, a Flight CTLS registered N995LS, operated by Hillsdale Aero Inc, was involved in an accident near Pittsford, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 August 2012 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pittsford, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

41.8619, -84.4583

Aircraft

Flight CTLS

Registration

N995LS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hillsdale Aero Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hillsdale → Hillsdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA603

1 person had minor injuries.

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

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.