# NTSB DFW08CA175: Christen Industries A-1, N2879T, Pueblo, CO, June 28, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2008, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Pueblo, CO
- Coordinates: 38.135276, -104.808891
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1353&lon=-104.8089&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68391
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68391/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA175

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident were the wind gust and tailwind.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane to runway 25 a strong quartering tailwind caused the airplane to swerve to the left. In an attempt to arrest the swerve, the pilot applied full right rudder and right brake. As the airplane responded back to the right, the left wing impacted a fence post. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The airplane's wing strut was bent during the mishap. Approximately 23 minutes after the accident, a weather reporting station located 17 miles northeast of the accident site, reported winds from 70 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 24 knots. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane to runway 25 a strong quartering tailwind caused the airplane to swerve to the left. In an attempt to arrest the swerve, the pilot applied full right rudder and right brake. As the airplane responded back to the right, the left wing impacted a fence post. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The airplane's wing strut was bent during the mishap. Approximately 23 minutes after the accident, a weather reporting station located 17 miles northeast of the accident site, reported winds from 70 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 24 knots. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2879T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2879T), registered now, S/N 1009, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Christen Industries A-1
- Registry model: [Christen Industries A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-a-1) (registry code 221020X) (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: 1009
- Airframe hours: 6276
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2008
- Departed: PUB, PUEBLO, CO
- Destination: 99CO, Pueblo, CO
- Airport: 99CO, Rock Creek Airport, runway 25, 1,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 275 total, 27 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: PUB, 17 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).

- [Incident 20080628839319I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080628839319I), Jun 28, 2008: Chris A1, Pueblo, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman entered a right downwind for runway 25 at Rock Creek Airport (99C0) after observing the windsock and blowing dust patterns that he states were…

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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