# Accident 20061115023439A: Aviat A1B, Heber City, UT, November 15, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2006, 13:10 local time
- Place: Heber City, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1853° N, 111.1875° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1853&lon=-111.1875&mi=10
- Aircraft: N85HY, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85HY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviat A-1B (registry code 2210406, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT A1B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061115023439A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AFTER ABOUT 2.5 HOURS OF FLIGHT CONDUCTING A SAR MISSION THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND FOR A BREAK. THE SAR COMMAND POST WAS LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF STRAWBERRY RESEVOIR, UT. THE EXISTING NORMAL ROADS WERE UNUSABLE DUE TO POSTS ALONG THE SIDE TO AID THE SNOWPLOWS IN IDENTIFYING THE EDGE OF THE NARROW ROADS. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE THREE PASSES ON A STRETCH OF DIRT SERVICE ROAD. DURING EACH PASS HE ALLOWED THE LARGE TUNDRA TIRES TO SETTLE INTO THE SNOW IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE DEPTH. HE DETERMINED THE DEPTH TO BE ABOUT SIX INCHES, ADEQUATE FOR THE TYPE OF TIRES. DURING THE LANDING ALL WENT WELL UNTIL AT A RELATIVELY SLOW AIRSPEED THE WEIGHT OF THE SLOW AIRCRAFT BROKE THROUGH AN APPARENT HARD CRUST AND INSTANTLY SANK INTO SNOW ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN INCHES. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER THE NOSE AND COME TO REST IN AN UPSIDE DOWN POSITION. (-23 AMENDMENT) AMENDED TO CORRECT A TYPO OF THE REGISTRATION NUMBER. THE INITIAL REPORT INCORRECTLY HAD N85YH AS THE REGISTRATION NUMBER. THE CORRECT REGISTRATION IS N85HY AS STATED ON THIS AMENDMENT.

## 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 SEA07LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA018), Nov 15, 2006: Aviat A-1B (N85HY), Fruitland, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight decision to land on snow covered terrain. Deep snow on the terrain that the pilot chose to land on was a factor in this accident.

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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