# NTSB ANC00LA101: Haskins CHALLENGER-2, N61881, Central, AK, August 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2000, 20:00 local (Aug 12, 2000, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Central, AK - Coordinates: 65.470481, -145.190933 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.4705&lon=-145.1909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50980 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50980/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA101 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the winds, and his intentional attempt to takeoff into the known adverse weather. Factors associated with this accident were the gusty crosswind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment ## Analysis The private pilot stated he had been waiting for two days for the weather to improve so he could depart. He said the right crosswind was steady at 18 knots, and there were infrequent gusts to 40 knots. He indicated the airplane can be controlled in 20 knot direct crosswinds, and he normally does not fly at wind speeds above that. He said that during the takeoff roll from the 600 feet long by 25 feet wide ridgetop landing area, a gust struck the airplane and pushed it off the left side of the ridge. The airplane dropped off the ridgeline and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2000, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Haskins Challenger-2 experimental airplane, N61881, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during takeoff from a ridge, about 60 miles northwest of Central, Alaska, about 65.50 degrees north latitude, and 148.30 degrees west longitude. The solo private pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as the return leg of a hunting trip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 16, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated he had been waiting for two days for the weather to improve so he could depart. He estimated the winds to be from the west (a right crosswind), steady at 18 knots, and there were infrequent gusts to 40 knots. He indicated the airplane can be controlled in 20-knot direct crosswinds, and he normally does not fly at wind speeds above that. He said that during the takeoff roll from the 600 feet long by 25 feet wide ridge top landing area, a gust from the right struck the airplane and pushed it off the left side of the ridge. The airplane dropped off the ridgeline and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61881](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61881-2002-07-11), registration cancelled 2002-07-11, S/N CH2 1092-0897, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Haskins CHALLENGER-2 (CHALLENGER) - Registry model: [Haskin Jeff CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/haskin-jeff-challenger-ii) (registry code 056227X) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1092-0897 - Engines: Rotax 503DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeff D. Haskins - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2000 - Destination: CEM, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 1,600 total, 240 in this make and model, 1,341 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 18 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000811013079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000811013079A), Aug 11, 2000: No damage. (-23) On August 11, 2000, at approximately 2000 local time, the pilot of this aircraft was attempting to takeoff from a gravel airstrip 60 nautical miles north… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.