# NTSB DEN01LA038: Aviat A-1A, N26HV, Eden, UT, January 4, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 4, 2001, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Eden, UT - Coordinates: 41.300277, -111.816947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3003&lon=-111.8169&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 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50888/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA038 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a landing attempt. A contributing factor was his failure to check the snow conditions in the field before the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The pilot was planning to practice landings on a snow covered field near his home. He said there was 2 to 3 inches of snow at his house, but he did not check the snow conditions in the field before the flight. The pilot said he was flying low over the field, dragging one tire in the snow. The crust covering the snow broke, and the tire was pulled into the snow. The airplane nosed over to the inverted position. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 2001, at approximately 1500 mountain standard time, an Aviat A-1A, N26HV, was substantially damaged while attempting a landing on a snow covered alfalfa field near Eden, Utah. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight that originated from Ogden, Utah, approximately 30 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he departed Ogden to practice landings on a snow covered alfalfa field near his home. He said that the snow at his home was 2 to 3 inches deep; however he did not check the snow conditions in the field before the flight. The pilot said he was flying low over the field, "dragging one tire [tundra tire] in the snow." He said that the snow had a crust on it, and when the tire broke through the crust, it got "pulled down" into the snow. The airplane subsequently nosed over onto its back. The left wing spar, the two wing struts, and the rudder were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26HV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26HV), registered now, S/N 1410 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A-1A - Registry model: [Aviat A-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1a) (registry code 2210405) (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: 1410 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: A Bar V Cattle & Commerce Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2001 - Departed: OGD, Ogden, UT - Destination: NONE, Eden, UT - Airport: NONE, Farm Field, runway 36, 2,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 30, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 176 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: OGD, 11 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 20010104000229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010104000229A), Jan 4, 2001: Aviat A1A, Eden, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to check field conditions before landing. During first pass the right main wheel sunk into snow and broke the frozen crust causing… ## Other investigations on N26HV (2) 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. - [NTSB WPR22FA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA304), Aug 15, 2022: Aviat A-1A (N26HV), Yellow Pine, ID, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an initial climb, which resulted in the exceedance of the critical angle of attack, subsequent aerodynamic stall, and impact with terrain.… - [NTSB WPR13CA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA280), Jun 21, 2013: Aviat A-1A (N26HV), McCall, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while on approach for landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and a hard landing. 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.