# NTSB MIA03CA151: Aircraft Mfg & Dev. CH2T, N643AM, Crystal River, FL, July 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2003, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Crystal River, FL - Coordinates: 28.867221, -82.571113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8672&lon=-82.5711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57592 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03CA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57592/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA151 ## Probable cause The student pilot 's failure to maintain control while landing in crosswind which resulted in airplane departing the runway and incurring damage. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The student pilot stated that on final approach to land he had been compensating for a right-quartering headwind, and just before the landing flare a gust of wind from the right affected the airplane. He said he over-corrected for the wind, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a muddy area. As the airplane departed the runway, the left main landing gear wheel dug into the mud, and the airplane pivoted to the left, striking some bushes and damaging both wings. Prior to the accident, the student pilot said that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2003, about 1435 eastern daylight time, an Aircraft MFG & Development Company CH2000, N643AM, registered to and operated by National Aviation Holdings, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, departed the runway during the landing roll at Crystal River, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from St. Petersburg, Florida, on the same day, about 1300. The student pilot stated that he was conducting a cross-country flight from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, St. Petersburg, Florida, to Gainesville, Florida, and he encountered deteriorating weather as he approached Gainesville, Florida, so he elected to deviate to Crystal River, Florida. He said that on final approach to land he had been compensating for a right-quartering headwind, and just before the landing flare a gust of wind from the right affected the airplane. He said he over-corrected for the wind, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a muddy area. As the airplane departed the runway, the left main landing gear wheel dug into the mud, and the airplane pivoted to the left, striking some bushes and damaging both wings. Prior to the accident, the student pilot said that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N643AM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N643AM), registered now, S/N 20-0054 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aircraft Mfg & Dev. Co. (AMD) CH2T - Registry model: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/aircraft-mfg-development-ch-2000) (registry code 0033001) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-0054 - Airframe hours: 1145 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-235-N2C reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: National Aviation Holdings - Registered owner: National Aviation Holdings - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 18, 2003, 56 hours before - Departed: PIE, St. Peterburg, FL - Destination: GNV, Gainesville, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CGC, Crystal River Airport, runway 27, 4,555 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: CGC ## 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 20030725022039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030725022039A), Jul 25, 2003: Amtr ALARUSCH2T, Crystal River, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 25, 2003, at 1440 EDT, a alarus CH-2T, N643AM, registered to national aviation holdings inc., ran off the runway on landing at Crystal River… 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.