# NTSB WPR25LA106: Aviat A-1, N345HU, Heber City, UT, February 27, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 27, 2025, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Heber City, UT - Coordinates: 40.481806, -111.4288 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4818&lon=-111.4288&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199775 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199775/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199775 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA106 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a collision with a snowbank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after departure he flew for over an hour and 15 minutes and then was maneuvering the airplane when he felt pressure in his inner ears. He was unable to equalize the pressure and opted to land back at the airport. He configured the airplane for landing, but was focused on getting relief for his ears. The airplane touched down normally and he manipulated the flight control stick fully aft. The pilot experienced a loss of directional control and the left tire collided with a snowbank. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N345HU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N345HU), registered now, S/N 1312, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT INC A-1 - Registry model: [Aviat A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (registry code 2210302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d2a) (registry code 42150, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1312 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 50 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Back Country N345hu LLC - Registered owner: Back Country N345hu LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 31, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HCR, Heber Valley, runway 04/22, 6,898 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2024; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 214 total, 32 in this make and model, 112 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: KHCR - METAR: KHCR 272235Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 07/M08 A3034 RMK AO2 T00661081 ## 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 20250227001699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250227001699A), Feb 27, 2025: Aviat Inc A-1, Heber City, UT, Substantial damage. The private pilot during his landing phase noticed the aircraft right wing was higher and corrected accordingly, the aircraft then drifted to the left making… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199775. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18947816&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20small_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18947920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=C-Form%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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.