- Date
- May 29, 2006, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Linden, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N9613QChristen Industries A-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 3, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Teterboro FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060529023879A
- Case key
- 63768
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the engine run-up. Factor's in the accident were the pilot's diverted attention, and his failure to secure the airplane's left tire.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the Christen Industries A-1 reported that he observed the alternator light remain illuminated after start-up. He then shut down the engine, engaged the parking brake, and placed a chock on the airplane's right tire. He did not have a chock for the left tire. He then conducted a high RPM engine run-up. During the engine run-up, the pilot said that he was distracted by an open door, which was slamming back and forth against the airframe, due to the propeller wash. As the pilot attempted to close the door, the airplane turned toward the right, and impacted a hangar. The pilot reported 2,640 hours of total flight experience, which included 1,955 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the Christen Industries A-1 reported he observed the alternator light remain illuminated after start-up. He then shut down the engine, engaged the parking brake, and placed a chock on the airplane's right tire. He did not have a chock for the left tire. He then conducted a high RPM engine run-up. During the engine run-up, the pilot said that he was distracted by an open door, which was slamming back and forth against the airframe, due to the propeller wash. As the pilot attempted to close the door, the airplane turned toward the right, and impacted a hangar. The pilot reported 2,640 hours of total flight experience, which included 1,955 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9613Q
- Reported as
- Christen Industries A-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1174
- Airframe hours
- 1,960
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Keith M. Mazzarella
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2006
- Departed
- LDJ · Linden, NJ
- Destination
- LDJ · Linden, NJ
- Airport
- LDJ · Linden
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2005
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,640 total · 1,955 in this make and model · 2,356 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- EWR, 6 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.