Weather (Other) · NTSB CEN13LA409
FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW — Taos, NM
| Date | July 10, 2013 |
| Location | Taos, NM |
| Aircraft | FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW |
| Purpose of flight | Instructional |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Approach-VFR pattern final Other weather encounter |
| Pilot age | 73 |
| Pilot total time | 3,365 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 564 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Dust devil/whirlwind-Effect on operation - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Attain/maintain not possible - C
What happened
The pilot reported that, while in the airport traffic pattern, the airplane encountered very light turbulence. During short final approach and when the airplane was about 80 ft above ground level, the airplane suddenly encountered extreme turbulence, which the pilot described as far more violent than he had ever experienced. The airplane dropped vertically about 10 ft, suddenly entered a nose-up attitude, rolled right, and then struck the ground in a mostly nose-down attitude.
Meteorological information indicated that, about the time of the accident, the atmosphere near the airport was unstable with variable light wind, warm dry air, and strong solar heating conditions, all of which are conducive to thermal activity and dust devil development. Further, several witnesses reported seeing dust devils and swirling wind in the area about the time of the accident. The pilot's report of extreme turbulence and his sudden loss of airplane control are consistent with the airplane's unexpected encounter with a dust devil.