# NTSB CEN21LA301: Christen Industries A-1, N2932W, Wilmington, OH, June 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 20, 2021, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Wilmington, OH - Coordinates: 39.553116, -83.854927 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5531&lon=-83.8549&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; CVG FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103402 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103402/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103402 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA301 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with gusting winds, which resulted in an inflight collision with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that while taking off on a personal flight, a gust of wind lifted the right wing. The pilot overcorrected, which resulted in a slight left turn and loss of altitude. The airplane was about 4 to 5 ft agl when it struck a barb wire fence that ran parallel to the departure runway. The pilot landed the airplane in a cornfield along the airplane’s flight path. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 19 with wind from 210o at 8 knots, gusting to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2932W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2932W), registered now, S/N 1084, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC 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: 1084 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 352 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OH77, Lumberton Airport, runway 19, 2,800 × 32 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2020; seat: front; flight hours: 219 total, 147 in this make and model, 166 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: ILN, 8 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 20210620010299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210620010299A), Jun 20, 2021: Christen Industries Inc A-1, Wilmington, OH, Substantial damage. 06/20/2021, The pilot operating N2932W departed OH77 from the grass at a heading around 219 degrees which is perpendicular to runway 1/19. The aircraft became… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103402. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12720819&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20-%20Schweller-Travis%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of damage (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12724415&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20of%20Damage-Rel.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. --- 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.