# NTSB SEA05TA028: Christen Industries A-1, N2898D, Terreton, ID, December 20, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: December 20, 2004, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Terreton, ID - Coordinates: 43.938331, -112.488609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9383&lon=-112.4886&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60759 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05TA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60759/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05TA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The purpose of the public use flight was to hunt coyotes. The pilot reported that the airplane was at an altitude of 50 to 100 feet agl. After the gunner shot one of a group of three coyotes and wounded another, he circled the airplane left to line up for another shot at the wounded coyote. The turn was made at 60 knots with three notches of flaps. After completing the left turn, the "aircraft seemed to lose elevator control," the tail pitched up, and the nose went down. The pilot added full power and had just enough time to raise the nose before the airplane hit the ground. The forward section of the lower fuselage was crushed upward. The main landing gear separated, and the right wing separated at the wing root and rotated forward. ## Factual narrative On December 20, 2004, approximately 1000 mountain standard time, a Christen Industries A-1 airplane, N2898D, impacted terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering about 8 miles north of Terreton, Idaho. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot and the passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was operated by the Idaho Woolgrowers Association, Boise, Idaho, under contract to the United States Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the public use flight was to hunt coyotes. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Rexburg Madison County Airport, Rexburg, Idaho, at 0815 for the local area flight. The pilot reported to an NTSB investigator that the airplane was at an altitude of 50 to 100 feet agl. After the gunner shot one of a group of three coyotes and wounded another, he circled the airplane left to line up for another shot at the wounded coyote. The turn was made at 60 knots with three notches of flaps. After completing the left turn, the "aircraft seemed to lose elevator control," the tail pitched up, and the nose went down. The pilot added full power and had just enough time to raise the nose before the airplane hit the ground. The forward section of the lower fuselage was crushed upward. The main landing gear separated, and the right wing separated at the wing root and rotated forward. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2898D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2898D), registered now, S/N 1019 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1019 - Airframe hours: 7003 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-CIG 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services - Registered owner: Idaho Woolgrowers Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 13, 2004, 14 hours before - Departed: REX, Rexburg, ID - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 23, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 3,307 total, 2,414 in this make and model, 3,188 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Temperature: 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg ## 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 20041220032299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041220032299A), Dec 20, 2004: Chris A1, Terreton, ID, Destroyed. (-23) On December 20, 2004, an A-1 husky, N2898D, was on a VFR flight hunting coyotes for the usda. The aircraft crashed. ## Other investigations on N2898D (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW94T#A04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94T%23A04), Aug 10, 1994: Christen Industries A-1 (N2898D), Tinnie, NM, substantial damage 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.