# NTSB DEN04LA144: Aviat A-1, N6XJ, Greeley, CO, September 2, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2004, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Coordinates: 40.349998, -104.408332
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3500&lon=-104.4083&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60161
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60161/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA144

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper in-flight decision to land on an unimproved surface and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the soft landing surface.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he had just touched down short of his intended landing site and was rolling out when the nose wheel became stuck in the sand. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted near the river causing substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 2004, at approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N6XJ, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a landing 12 miles southeast of Greeley, Colorado, along the Platte River. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated from Longmont, Colorado, at approximately 0800.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he had touched down short of his intended landing site and was rolling out when the nose wheel became stuck in the sand. The pilot stated that the landing surface was a "private unimproved site." The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted near the river. Both wing struts were bent, three ribs in the right wing were crushed and the rudder fin and vertical stabilizer were crushed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6XJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aviat A-1
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1386
- Airframe hours: 527
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2004, 30 hours before
- Departed: 2V2, LONGMONT, CO
- Destination: GXY, Greeley, CO
- Airport: Private Strip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 26, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 304 total, 235 in this make and model, 285 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: GXY, 12 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 20040902022919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040902022919A), Sep 2, 2004: Chris A1, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 2, 2004, N6XJ Aviat A-1 (husky) attempted an intentional off field landing 12 miles east of greely airport (gxy). The aircraft touched down…

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.

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