# NTSB CEN14CA170: Donald G Stokes Challenger II, N284DS, Crockett, TX, March 21, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 21, 2014, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Crockett, TX
- Coordinates: 31.309268, -95.449516 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3093&lon=-95.4495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88962/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88962
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA170

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631IS), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05631IS), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05631IS), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05631IS), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05631IS), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05631IS), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631IS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said that as he made his approach, the airplane contacted the top strand of a wire and the right wing clipped a brush pile, resulting in a hard landing. He said the wind was gusty at the time. Both wings were punctured by tree branches and the lift struts and braces were buckled. The nose and left main landing gears had collapsed, buckling the fuselage. There was also a fabric tear in the vertical stabilizer. No pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported by the pilot.

## Factual narrative

In his accident report, the pilot said that as he made his approach, "a gust of wind pushed [the airplane] near the trees [lying] next to the [air]strip, where the [air]plane['s] right wing caught a brush pile which caused the [air]plane to have a hard landing." In his statement to the Texas Department of Public Safety, however, the pilot said the airplane contacted the top strand of a wire, "causing the {air]plane to pull to the right and strike some piled up fence row clippings with right wing and [air]plane hit the ground collapsing left landing gear." Both wings were punctured by tree branches and the lift struts and braces were buckled. The nose and left main landing gears had collapsed, buckling the fuselage. There was also a fabric tear on the vertical stabilizer. No pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N284DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N284DS-2014-05-30), registration cancelled 2014-05-30, S/N CH2-0911-LSS-L65-0196, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DONALD G STOKES CHALLENGER II (UNDESIGNAT)
- Registry model: [Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/donald-g-stokes-challenger-ii) (registry code 05631IS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CH2-0911-LSS-L65-019
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 11
- Engines: Rotex 582 DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stokes Donald G
- Registered owner: Stokes Donald G
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 13, 2014, 1 hours before
- Departed: NONE, CROCKETT, TX
- Destination: NONE, CROCKETT, TX
- Airport: NONE, None, runway 18, 2,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; sport pilot, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review August 23, 2013; seat: front; flight hours: 2,198 total, 11 in this make and model, 2,082 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: DKR, 2 nm away

## 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 20140321003579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140321003579A), Mar 21, 2014: Donald G Stokes CHALLENGER II, Crockett, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot states that at approximately 1415 CDT, aircraft was on approach to private grass strip near Crockett, TX, when the landing gear struck the top wire of…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88962. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot's Statement to Texas Department of Public Safety (item 2, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20Texas%20Department%20of%20Public%20Safety-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1. N284DS Where it Came to Rest (item 3, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20N284DS%20Where%20it%20Came%20to%20Rest-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Right Side of N284DS at the end of the airstrip (item 4, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Right%20Side%20of%20N284DS%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20airstrip-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. Collapsed Left Main Landing Gear and Buckled Fuselage (item 5, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Collapsed%20Left%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20and%20Buckled%20Fuselage-Master.PDF
- Photo 4. Collapsed Nosed and Left Main Landing Gears,Buckled Struts and Tree Branches in Left Wing (item 6, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Collapsed%20Nosed%20and%20Left%20Main%20Landing%20Gears,Buckled%20Struts%20and%20Tree%20Branches%20in%20Left%20Wing-Master.PDF

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.

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