# Accident 19980906028409A: Chris A1, Selawik, AK, September 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 1998, 18:00 local time
- Place: Selawik, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 66.5899° N, 160.0204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5899&lon=-160.0204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28973, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28973) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Christen Industries A-1 (registry code 221020X, https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-a-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHRIS A1
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 400 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980906028409A

## Narrative

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

(.4) ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1998, ABOUT 1800 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES A-1 HUSKY AIRPLANE, N28973, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ON AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING STRIP, 54 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SELAWIK, ALASKA, AT POSITION 66-20.6 NORTH LATITUDE, 157-50.8 WEST LONGITUDE. THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO ROBERTS HOLDINGS, INC., OF MELSTONE, MONTANA, AND WAS OPERATED BY DAVID ROBERTS OF FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD TWO FAA INSPECTORS DURING AN INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 9, THAT HE WAS LANDING TO THE WEST ON A 600 FEET LONG, OFF AIRPORT STRIP WITH GUSTY RIGHT CROSSWINDS OF 25 KNOTS TO 35 KNOTS. DURING THE LANDING, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. HE INDICATED THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN THE GUSTY WINDS, BUT DID NOT BELIEVE HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO RETURN TO GALENA. THE PILOT HAD BEEN FLYING WITH A STUDENT CERTIFICATE ISSUED IN 1983, AND HAD ACCRUED ABOUT 1,000 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME, WITH ABOUT 400 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. HE STATED TO THE FAA INSPECTORS THAT HE "JUST HAD NOT HAD TIME TO COMPLETE HIS PRIVATE LICENSE." (-23)SEARCH AND RESCUE WENT ON SEARCH MONDAY 9/7/98 TO LOCATE AN ELT SIGNAL ORIGIN.  THEY FOUND THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS BACK OF THE END OF A STRIP LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 54 DME OF THE SELAWIK(WLK) VOR.  AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS THE PILOT WAS FINALLY NAMED AND LOCATED.

## 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 ANC98LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA141), Sep 7, 1998: Christen Industries A-1 Husky (N28973), Selawik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. Factors in this accident were a crosswind, the pilot's lack of certification, and his inadequate fuel consumption calculations.

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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