# Accident 20010509008539A: Aviat A1A, Tontonat, AZ, May 9, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 2001, 08:00 local time
- Place: Tontonat, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1608° N, 111.7200° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1608&lon=-111.7200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N281C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N281C) (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: AVIAT A1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 935 total, 130 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA175) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010509008539A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON MAY 9, 2001, ABOUT 0730 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN AVIAT A-1A, N281C, OWNED BY STUMP JUMPER AERO LLC, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH BRUSH DURING AN OFF FIELD LANDING IN THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, ARIZONA. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NEITHER THE PRIVATE PILOT NOR THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED DURING THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND ORIGINATED FROM WINSLOW, ARIZONA, ABOUT 0700. THE PILOT INITIALLY REPORTED THAT HIS AIRPLANE HAD ONLY SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE UPON IMPACTING NATIVE VEGETATION. HE INDICATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED DURING ROLLOUT. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE PERFORMED BY FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS PERSONNEL REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO PORTIONS OF THE FUSELAGE. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD WAS ADVISED OF THE FAA'S OBSERVATIONS ON MAY 15, 2001.                                           (-23)LANDED TO WEST WENT OVER SOME CACTUS AND BUSHES APPLIED FULL RT. RUDDER JUST BEFORE I STOPPED I HAD FULL RT. AILERON BUT LEFT WING WENT DOWN.  AI RCRAFT HAD DAMAGE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED, PROP BENT, LEFT WING DAMAGED AT TIP.(.4) ON MAY 9, 2001, ABOUT 0800 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN AVIAT A-1A, N281C, OPERATED BY THE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH BRUSH DURING AN OFF FIELD LANDING IN THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, ARIZONA. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NEITHER THE PRIVATE PILOT NOR THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED DURING THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND ORIGINATED FROM WINSLOW, ARIZONA, ABOUT 0715. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT UPON ARRIVAL OVER THE DIRT FIELD HE OBSERVED A WINDSOCK, WHICH INDICATED THERE WAS A LIGHT WIND FROM THE NORTHEAST. HE THEN MADE A LOW PASS OVER THE FIELD TO CHECK ON ITS CONDITION, AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS NOTED. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP AND COLLIDED WITH A PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS AND SEVERAL BUSHES. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT, THEREAFTER, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT GROUND LOOPED. (THE SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF GROUND IMPACT SIGNATURES REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE ACTUALLY DRIFTED RIGHT WHILE LANDING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION.)

## 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 LAX01LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA175), May 9, 2001: Aviat A-1A (N281C), TontoNat.Forest, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate crosswind correction compensation during landing and his failure to maintain proper alignment with the usable runway. A contributing factor was the presence of bushes in…

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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