SEA03LA167

NTSB accident investigation · Aviat A-1B · Driggs, ID · August 11, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 11, 2003, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC)
Place
Driggs, ID
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N233HYAviat A-1B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 30, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20030811018609A
Case key
57680

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the dust devil.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - dust devil/whirlwindFactor
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The private pilot reported that on final approach he noticed a dust devil approximately one-half to three-quarters of the way down the runway. After landing and during the rollout the left wing rose, followed by the tail being lifted, resulting in the aircraft flipping over and coming to rest in an inverted position.

Factual narrative

On August 11, 2003, approximately 1250 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1B single engine airplane, N233HY, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing roll at the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport, Driggs, Idaho. The airplane was registered to Blue Lakes Inc., of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and operated by the pilot. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Idaho Falls, Idaho, at 1215.

According to the Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that on final approach he noticed a "dust devil" approximately one-half to three-quarters of the way down the runway. After landing and during the rollout the left wing lifted, the tail lifted, and the airplane subsequently flipped over, coming to rest inverted with the nose of the aircraft oriented in the direction opposite of the landing roll.

A certified airframe and powerplant mechanic reported substantial damage to both wings, the rudder, and the fuselage. The propeller and propeller spinner were also damaged.

Aircraft

Registration
N233HY
Reported as
Aviat A-1B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2233
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Blue Lakes Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
IDA · Idaho Falls, ID
Destination
U59 · Driggs, ID
Airport
U59 · Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport, runway 21, 7,300 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
38
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
January 12, 2002
Seat
Front
Flight hours
695 total · 20 in this make and model · 466 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.38 inHg
Observed at
JAC, 18 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.