# Accident 19980128002739A: Chris A1, Buena Vista, CO, January 28, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 28, 1998, 13:15 local time
- Place: Buena Vista, CO
- Airport: Buena Vista Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8297° N, 106.1402° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8297&lon=-106.1402&mi=10
- Aircraft: N503MZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N503MZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviat A-1A (registry code 2210405, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (registry code 41504, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHRIS A1
- Reported engine: LYC O360C1G
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,866 total, 13 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA110) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980128002739A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOST CONTROL LANDING GUSTY WIND. DRAGGED WING. LSOT CONTROL. EXITED RWY DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. WIND LOW TIME IN TYPE. (.4)THE PILOT SAID THAT ALTHOUGH HE HAD CONSIDERABLE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, HIS EXPOSURE TO THE AVIAT A-1 WAS LIMITED.  THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AND TO BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPLANE.  THE LANDING WAS MADE ON RUNWAY 15.  THE WIND WAS FROM 230 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, CREATING A RIGHT CROSSWIND.  THE PILOT SAID HE MADE 'A BAD TOUCH DOWN' AND ADDED POWER TO ABORT THE LANDING.  WHEN THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, THE WIND SHIFTED TO A QUARTERING TAILWIND AND IT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE GROUND AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRPLANE WENT DOWN A HILL AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE.                                               (-23)BECAUSE OF A RAPIDLY CHANGING AND INCREASING WIND GUST OCCURING AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS DIMINISHED TO THE POINT THAT THE UPWIND WING WAS PUSHED UP BY THE WIND AND THE LEFT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND.  AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AND CONTIUED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST AGAINST AT TREE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA110), Jan 28, 1998: Aviat A-1 (N503MZ), Buena Vista, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors were the crosswind changing to a tailwind, and the pilot's lack of experience in the type of aircraft.

## Other reports on N503MZ (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20001012019459I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001012019459I), Oct 12, 2000: Aviat A1A (N503MZ), Pinedale, WY, Minor damage. (-23) While flying low to look over some property, the a/c struck a powerline guide wire at approx. 50 feet above the ground.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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