# NTSB CHI98LA259: Anderson T Craft Special, N91XX, Pick City, ND, July 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1998, 09:58 local (14:58 UTC) - Place: Pick City, ND - Coordinates: 47.489074, -101.359642 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4891&lon=-101.3596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43090/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA259 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance with terrain. A factor was the pilot's attempted low altitude acrobatic maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aerobatics - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis A witness stated that while he was fishing from a pontoon, an airplane flew over at an altitude of approximately 70 feet above the water. The witness reported that as the airplane passed over him, the engine rpm increased as the pitch of the aircraft increased quickly. The witness stated that while in a climb attitude the airplane rolled to the left and executed a barrel roll maneuver. The witness reported that the aircraft lost altitude during the barrel roll and impacted the water in an upright attitude, skidded on top of the water, slid onto the shore line, and impacted a tree. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 1998, at 0958 central daylight time, an Anderson T Craft Special, N91XX, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with water while in an aerobatic maneuver over Lake Sakakawea, near Pick City, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot suffered fatal injuries. Time of departure is unknown. A witness stated that while he was fishing from a pontoon, an airplane flew over at an altitude of approximately 70 feet above the water. The witness reported that as the airplane passed over him, the engine rpm increased as the pitch of the aircraft increased quickly. The witness stated that while in a climb attitude the airplane rolled to the left and executed a barrel roll maneuver. The witness reported that the aircraft lost altitude during the barrel roll and impacted the water in an upright attitude, skidded on top of the water, slid onto the shore line, and impacted a tree. An autopsy was performed on the pilot in command by the North Dakota State Forensic Medical Examiner, North Dakota Department of Health, Bismarck, ND, on July 19, 1998. Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA Civil Aviation Medical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and quinine was detected in the urine. Negative results were obtained for all additional tests conducted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91XX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91XX-2000-03-31), registration cancelled 2000-03-31, S/N TCR46 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Anderson Aircraft Corp. T CRAFT SPECIAL (T CRAFT SP) - Registry model: [Anderson Mark L T CRAFT SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-mark-l-t-craft-special) (registry code 05618L1) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: TCR46 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark Louis Anderson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 37N, RIVERDALE, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BIS ## 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 19980718046799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980718046799A), Jul 18, 1998: Pickcity, ND, No damage. (-23) On July 18, 1998, at 0930 central daylight time, a t craft special, N91XX, operated by a private pilot was demolished, resulting from a stall during a… 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.