# NTSB ANC98LA141: Christen Industries A-1 Husky, N28973, Selawik, AK, September 7, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1998, 18:00 local (Sep 7, 1998, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Selawik, AK - Coordinates: 66.589904, -160.020355 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5899&lon=-160.0204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43913/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA141 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear - collapsed - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The pilot stated to two FAA inspectors that he was attempting to land on a 600 feet long, off airport landing site, with a 25 knot crosswind and gusts to 35 knots. During the landing, the right main landing gear separated and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said he would not have attempted to land, but he did not have enough fuel to return to his destination airport. The pilot also revealed that he had been flying with a student pilot certificate since 1983, and 'just had not had time to complete his private license.' He had accumulated about 1,000 flight hours at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative 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." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28973](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28973), registered now, S/N 1018, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Christen Industries A-1 HUSKY - 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: 1018 - Airframe hours: 520 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David Roberts - Registered owner: Roberts Holdings, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1998, 25 hours before - Departed: GAL, GALENA, AK - Destination: PURCELL MTN., AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,000 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 25 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19980906028409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980906028409A), Sep 6, 1998: Chris A1, Selawik, AK, Substantial damage. (.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… 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.