# NTSB CEN22FA109: Christavia MK1, N3177F, Oral, SD, January 31, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report
- Date: January 30, 2022, 17:10 local (Jan 31, 2022, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Oral, SD · Brush, hilly terrain
- Coordinates: 43.375175, -103.29778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3752&lon=-103.2978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104569
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22FA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104569/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104569
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA109

## Probable cause

The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt a flight with no previous flight experience.

## Findings

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

- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05618U6), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05618U6), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05618U6), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05618U6), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05618U6), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05618U6), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05618U6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The noncertificated pilot, who had no previous training or flight experience, texted his friend to ask if he, the pilot, could taxi the airplane on a private airstrip, which was located at the friend’s residence. At the time of the pilot’s request, the friend was not at his residence. The friend arrived home about 1645 and observed the pilot taxiing the airplane. About 1700, the friend observed the airplane airborne, and the pilot completed two touch-and-go landings on the private airstrip. The airplane departed to the south and did not return. About 30 minutes later, the friend located the accident airplane, which had crashed in a field near the pilot’s residence, about 2 miles from his private airstrip. There were no witnesses to the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The ground scar, impact signatures on the airplane structure, and wreckage fragmentation patterns were consistent with an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot had been working on the kit airplane for several months in preparation to have the airplane certificated. On January 30, 2022, about 1710 mountain standard time, N3177F, a Christavia MK1 airplane, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Oral, South Dakota. The uncertificated pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot texted him to ask if he, the pilot, could taxi the airplane on the private airstrip, which was located at the friend’s residence. At the time of the pilot’s request, the friend was not at his residence. The friend arrived home about 1645 and observed the pilot taxiing the airplane. About 1700, the friend observed the airplane airborne, and the pilot completed two touch-and-go landings on the private airstrip, then departed to the south. About 1720, the friend texted the pilot to inquire about his location and there was no response. The friend then departed in his Piper airplane to look for the pilot. The friend located the accident airplane, which had crashed in a field near the pilot’s residence, about 2 miles from the private airstrip. The friend then returned to his private airstrip to respond to the accident site in his personal vehicle. The friend noted the pilot had the lap belt restraint secured, and the shoulder harness restraint was not used. There were no witnesses to the accident. According to the pilot’s friend and Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot did not hold a pilot certificate and had no previous training or flight experience. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left-wing aft spar was separated at the wing root, and the wing was displaced forward. The lower forward fuselage was crushed upward and aft. The outboard right wing displayed leading edge aft crush damage. A ground scar consistent with the wing leading edge was located below the wing. The engine was displaced downward and to the right (see figure). The fixed-pitch propeller was located about 5 ft forward of the main wreckage and was separated at the engine crankshaft flange. The propeller blades displayed forward twisting deformation. Figure. Accident Airplane Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to all of the flight control surfaces. The airframe and engine examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3177F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3177F-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 347, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Christavia MK1
- Registry model: [Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I](https://openairdocs.org/model/frazier-george-p-christavia-mk-i) (registry code 05618U6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 347
- Year built: 1992
- Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PVT
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; injuries: fatal; seat: front; restraint: lap only; toxicology performed; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: KCUT, 25 nm away
- METAR: KCUT 310053Z AUTO 24005KT 10SM CLR 03/M11 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP138 T00281111 $

## 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 20220130001079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220130001079A), Jan 30, 2022: Frazier George P CHRISTAVIA MK I, Oral, SD, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On January 30, 2022, about 1710 mountain standard time, an unregistered christavia MK1 airplane sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104569. 8.3 MB in all.

- Record of conversation pilot friend (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13607131&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION%20Pilot%20Friend-Rel.pdf
- Pilot friend statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13608348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FALL%20RIVER%20COUNTY%20SHERIFF%27S%20OFFICE_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airplane examination summary (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 732 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13758956&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- Toxicological report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 442 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13758946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Autopsy memo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13607775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13607141&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.