# NTSB LAX08CA280: Christen Industries A-1, N2870D, Wasco, OR, August 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 23, 2008, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Wasco, OR - Coordinates: 45.451389, -120.853614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4514&lon=-120.8536&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68800/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA280 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Christen Industries A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=221020X), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [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) ## 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) ## Analysis As the pilot was landing on the airstrip, the right wing went up, the airplane drifted left, and the left main landing gear contacted a rock and separated. The airplane spun around and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot said he had landed at this dirt strip on several previous occasions. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he flew into the canyon where the airstrip is located, and checked the runway. As he landed, the right wing went up, and the airplane drifted left. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear contacted a rock, and separated. The airplane spun around, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot said he had landed at this dirt strip along the Deschutes River on several previous occasions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2870D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2870D), registered now, S/N 1006, 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: 1006 - Airframe hours: 3608 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2008, 20 hours before - Departed: Prineville, OR - Destination: Wasco, OR - Airport: None, Deschutes River Dirt Strip, runway 18, 800 × 20 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 1,430 total, 550 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 20080823843459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080823843459A), Aug 23, 2008: Chris A1, Dalles, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing at an unnamed airstrip near the Dalles, Oregon the pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft which veered to the left and struck… 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.