- Date
- March 19, 1994, 11:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- Dutch John, UT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2925ZChristen Industries A-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940319005949A
- Case key
- 41898
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 inadequate compensations for wind conditions. The gusty crosswind was a factor.
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
During takeoff on runway 29 the pilot encountered a wind shift from a left quartering headwind to a left quartering tailwind, along with gusting conditions. The tailwheel equipped aircraft drifted off the right side of the runway, rolling into sagebrush, and ultimately nosing over.
Factual narrative
On March 19, 1994, approximately 1155 hours mountain standard time (MST), a Christen Industries, Inc., A-1, N2925Z, registered to and being flown by Charles R. Arment, a certificated commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control on takeoff at the Dutch John Airport, Dutch John, Utah. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was to be a local aerial observation, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91.
The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he initiated the takeoff roll on runway 29 with a left quartering headwind of 10- 12 knots. Immediately after the tailwheel left the runway the wind became gusty and shifted to a left quartering tailwind. The aircraft drifted off the right side of the runway and nosed over as it rolled into sagebrush.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2925Z
- Reported as
- Christen Industries A-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1032
- Airframe hours
- 540
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C1G, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Arment, C. Randall
- Registered owner
- Arment, C. Randall
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 9, 1994 · 60 hours before
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 33U · Dutch John, runway 29, 7,455 × 100 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
- 42
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,400 total · 500 in this make and model · 3,200 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Wind
- 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VEL, 29 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.