# NTSB ANC04LA071: Christen Industries Husky A-1, N9591C, Bethel, AK, June 25, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2004, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 61.209796, -149.859191 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2098&lon=-149.8592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage, FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59517 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59517/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during the ensuing aborted landing. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot's misjudgment of the airplane's speed and distance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that the float-equipped airplane touched down on the surface of the lake "somewhat longer than intended." He realized the airplane could not stop in the remaining distance, and he applied full power and aborted the landing. The airplane was unable to out climb the approaching terrain, and the left float struck an embankment as the airplane passed over the shoreline. After striking the embankment, the airplane skidded along the ground and into a pond. The airplane came to rest in an upright position, but the left wing and lift strut were damaged. The pilot stated there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2004, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Christen Husky A-1 airplane, N9591C, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain, following an aborted landing on Heart Lake, about 80 miles east of Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological condition prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, about 1230. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 25, the pilot said he touched down on the surface of the lake "somewhat longer than intended," and he decided to abort the landing. He said he applied full power, but was unable to out climb the approaching terrain, and the left float struck an embankment as the airplane passed over the shoreline. The pilot said after striking the embankment the airplane skidded along the ground and into a pond. He said the airplane came to rest in an upright position, but the left wing and lift strut were damaged in the accident. He said there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9591C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9591C), registered now, S/N 1077, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Christen Industries Husky A-1 - Registry model: [Christen Industries A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-a-1) (registry code 221020X) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1077 - Airframe hours: 3914 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Eggimann - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2004, 13 hours before - Departed: PABE, Bethel, AK - Destination: Bethel, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 15, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 253 total, 153 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °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 20040625014429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040625014429A), Jun 25, 2004: Chris A1, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 25, 2004 at about 1330 ast, a float-equipped christen husky A-1 airplane, N9591C, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with… 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.