Flight Design Gmbh CTLS N471CT accident near Pittstown, New Jersey

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot said that he checked the windsock prior to landing and that the winds were "pretty much down the runway." After touchdown, with the engine at idle power, the left wing "lifted" and the airplane began a turn to the right that could not be corrected with rudder and aileron. The pilot added power to abort the landing, which corrected the turning tendency. The propeller and nose landing gear then struck a runway light stanchion and then the ground. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, striking the left wing tip and collapsing the left gear. The winds reported at two different airports near the landing site ranged from between 20 to 50 degrees with speeds between 11 and 15 knots, gusting to 18 to 21 knots. The pilot reported that "The combination of a light aircraft, high wing, and a very narrow/tight landing gear causes a different [landing] characteristic and one that cannot be managed lightly."

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09LA204 for the full record.