# NTSB IAD03LA030: Young Challenger II, N851MY, Huntington, WV, February 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 2003, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Huntington, WV - Coordinates: 38.460556, -82.313613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4606&lon=-82.3136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA District Office/Coordinator - NTSB case key (mKey): 56429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD03LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03LA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to switch off the ignition on approach and not attaining the proper touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - ignition system,ignition switch - switched off (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis As the pilot approached the base leg of the traffic pattern for landing, he turned off the ignition, and shut down the engine. His intention was to perform a "dead-stick" landing, and glide the airplane to touchdown. When he realized that the runway could not be reached, and that trees on the approach end of the runway could not be cleared, he restarted the engine. When the engine restarted, he added power, and the pusher-prop configuration of the airplane resulted in a sudden nose-down pitch as thrust was added. The airplane then "nosed-over" into the trees and the ground. ## Factual narrative On February 2, 2003, about 1730 eastern standard time, a homebuilt Challenger II, N851MY, was substantially damaged during a collision with trees and terrain while landing at Robert Newlon Field (I41), Huntington, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot/owner was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, for the personal flight that departed Lawrence County Airpark (HTW), Huntington, West Virginia, about 1715. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane performed "beautifully" as he flew the short distance from Lawrence County Airpark to Robert Newlon Field, his home airport. As he approached the base leg of the traffic pattern for landing, the pilot turned off the ignition, and shut down the engine. His intention was to perform a "dead-stick" landing, and glide the airplane to touchdown, as he had done several times in the past. When it became apparent that the runway could not be reached, and that trees on the approach end of the runway could not be cleared, the pilot restarted the engine. When the engine restarted, and he added power, the pusher-prop configuration of the airplane resulted in a sudden nose-down pitch as thrust was added. The airplane then "nosed-over" into the trees and the ground. The pilot stated there were no anomalies in the handling and performance of the airplane. He added that, "My mistake was cutting the engine, and then waiting too long to restart. The airplane was great, no engine problems. When I hit the ground, the engine kept running." The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. He reported about 175 hours of flight experience, 37 hours of which were in the Challenger. The pilot/owner was the registered manufacturer of the airplane. The registration certificate showed an airworthiness date of November 8, 2002. The pilot's 37 hours of experience in the airplane was the total time on the airframe. The weather reported at an airport 10 miles southwest of Newlon Field, included clear skies and wind from 170 at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N851MY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N851MY), registered now, S/N CH2-0202-R-2186, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Young Challenger II - Registry model: [Young Michael W CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/young-michael-w-challenger-ii) (registry code 05614TA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-0202-R-2186 - Engines: Rotax 503DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael W. Young - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: HTW, Chesapeake, OH - Destination: I41, Huntington, WV - Airport: I41, Newlon field airport, runway 02, 2,300 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 25, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 115 total, 37 in this make and model, 75 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: HTS ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56429. 562 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 491 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180474&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.