# NTSB LAX99TA105: Christen Industries A-1, N2UJ, Battle Mountain, NV, February 19, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1999, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Battle Mountain, NV
- Coordinates: 40.46915, -117.030311 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4691&lon=-117.0303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45849
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99TA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45849/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99TA105

## Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from terrain.  A factor was the dust devil encountered by the airplane.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind (contributing factor)
  - low altitude flight/maneuver - attempted, pilot in command
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot was performing pest control for the Department of Agriculture.  He was over rolling terrain with winds at 5 knots gusting to 10 knots.  After observing a coyote in a gully he set up a racetrack pattern.  While still in a 10-degree bank prior to completion of the turn, the pilot stated he encountered a dust devil.  The wing suddenly dropped and contacted the ground before he could take corrective action.  The aircraft slid sideways and separated the right main landing gear before settling on its nose.

## Factual narrative

On February, 19, 1999, about 0900 hours Pacific standard time, a Christen A-1, N2UJ, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain 20 miles northwest of Battle Mountain, Nevada.  The commercial pilot/owner and one observer were not injured.  The public-use aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 on contract to the United States Department of Agriculture for pest control.  The aircraft departed Battle Mountain about 0700.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated that he was contracted by the Department of Agriculture to eradicate coyotes.  While patrolling an area of rolling terrain, he sighted a coyote in a gully.  He established a racetrack pattern and while rolling out of a left turn, still in a 10-degree bank, he encountered a turbulent dust devil.  The wing suddenly dropped and he was unable to recover prior to the wing tip contacting the ground.  As the aircraft settled, it slid sideways and tore off the right main landing gear before coming to rest on its nose.  The pilot estimated the winds were from the northwest at 5 knots gusting to 10 knots and the elevation was 4,800 feet.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2UJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2UJ-2004-06-18), registration cancelled 2004-06-18, S/N 1140, built 1990 (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: 1140
- Airframe hours: 880
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: US Dept Of Agriculture
- Registered owner: T. Wayne Evans
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BAM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 6,545 total, 844 in this make and model, 6,408 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EKO, 60 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 19990219001689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990219001689A), Feb 19, 1999: Chris A1, Battle Mountain, NV, Substantial damage. Department of wildlife public use acft was shooting coyotes for population control when it went to check out a kill. Encountered a pocket of air or a…

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.