# NTSB LAX89FA239: Christen Industries A-1 Husky, N29162, Somerton, AZ, July 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1989, 06:24 local (13:24 UTC)
- Place: Somerton, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.530536, -114.710395 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5305&lon=-114.7104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26235
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA239
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26235/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA239

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. THE LACK OF ALTITUDE FOR RECOVERY WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - reduced, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

A CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES HUSKY A-1 OPERATED BY THE US BORDER PATROL AS A PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH FLAT DESERT TERRAIN. THE PILOT WAS VISUALLY TRACKING FOOTPRINTS NEAR THE US-MEXICAN BORDER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED ORBITING AT A LOW ALTITUDE SHORTLY BEFORE ENTERING A STEEP TURN DURING WHICH THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & A POST IMPACT FIRE ERUPTED. THE FLAPS WERE DETERMINED TO BE IN THE 20 DEG SETTING. THE REAR SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WAS DETERMINED TO BE UNLATCHED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL HAD PERFORMANCE INFORMATION CONCERNING STALL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRPLANE. THE MANUAL INDICATED AN ALTITUDE LOSS OF 150 FT DURING POWER OFF STALLS. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATED THE USE OF 30 DEG FLAPS FOR ALL FLIGHT MANEUVERS REQUIRING FLAPS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29162](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29162-1993-09-13), registration cancelled 1993-09-13, S/N 1029 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES A-1 HUSKY
- Registry model: [Christen Industries A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-a-1) (registry code 221020X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1029
- Airframe hours: 486
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C7G 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: US Border Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 15, 1989, 84 hours before
- Departed: YUM, YUMA, AZ
- Airport: YUM, Yuma Int'L

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,175 total, 112 in this make and model, 8,019 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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