# NTSB DEN02LA024: Aviat A-1A, N29HU, Afton, WY, February 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 11, 2002, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Afton, WY - Coordinates: 42.719093, -110.920196 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7191&lon=-110.9202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54174/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54174 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a collision with a snow bank. Contributing factors were the icy runway and the snow bank. ## Analysis The pilot said he intentionally landed the airplane slightly right of centerline to avoid a strip of ice on the runway. When the airplane touched down, it started to veer to the right. The pilot corrected by applying left rudder, but "action was not normal." He said his "left foot did not feel positioned right." He then adjusted the positioning of his foot on the rudder pedal. At this point the aircraft was getting close to the east side of the runway, and he corrected back towards the centerline. The right elevator struck a snow bank, and the airplane veered sharply to the right, hit the snow bank and nosed down. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2002, approximately 1310 mountain standard time, an Aviat A-1A, N29HU, was substantially damaged during landing at Afton Municipal Airport, Afton, Wyoming. The commercial pilot and pilot rated-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Afton approximately 1240. The following is based on a telephone conversation with the pilot and the accident report he submitted. He intentionally landed the airplane slightly right of centerline to avoid a strip of ice on the runway. When the airplane touched down, it started to veer to the right. The pilot said he corrected by applying left rudder, but "action was not normal." He said his "left foot did not feel positioned right." He then adjusted the positioning of his foot on the rudder pedal. At this point the aircraft was getting close to the east side of the runway, and he corrected back towards the centerline. The right elevator struck a snow bank, and the airplane veered sharply to the right, hit the snow bank and nosed down. There was substantial damage to the right elevator and lesser damage to the left wing tip and engine cowling. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29HU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29HU), registered now, S/N 1381 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A-1A - Registry model: [Aviat A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (registry code 2210400) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1381 - Airframe hours: 264 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Boyd L. Eddins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2001, 11 hours before - Departed: AFO, Afton, WY - Destination: AFO, Afton, WY - Airport: AFO, Afton Municipal, runway AFO, 5,220 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 26, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 6,900 total, 332 in this make and model, 6,900 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: JAC, 62 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 20020211002169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020211002169A), Feb 11, 2002: Chris A1, Afton, WY, No damage. (-23) Pilot chose right side of the runway (to avoid ice). The left side of the runway was covered with ice. He got too close to the edge and hooked the right… ## Other investigations on N29HU (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB WPR21LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA147), Mar 27, 2021: Aviat A-1 (N29HU), Ogden, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a light crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54174. 230 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.