Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a stall and nose over during touchdown.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing flare the airplane pulled to the left. He added power and moved the control stick to the right, but without success, and inadvertently stalled the airplane. The airplane landed left wing low and on its nose after falling about three feet. The light sport airplane was not equipped with a stall warning horn. The airplane’s flight training supplement states the following about stalls: “The stall is noted through light buffeting. At 2 kts. (3 mph) above the stall speed, the rudder becomes “soft”. When flying close to stall speed, only the rudder and elevator are fully controllable. The ailerons have less effectiveness in very slow flight.”
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA435 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 13, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- North Vernon, Indiana
- Nearest airport
- North Vernon Municipal (OVO)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Flight Design CTSW
- N-number
- N218AW
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.