Challenger II accident near San Antonio, TX
On November 8, 1998, a Challenger II was involved in an accident near San Antonio, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 8, 1998
- Place
- San Antonio, TX
- Aircraft
- Challenger II · ULTR
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.280°N, 98.479°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X11417
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 8, 1998, at 1258 central standard time, an unregistered two-place Challenger II ultralight vehicle was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control while on the downwind leg at the Horizon Airport near San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot and the passenger/co-owner of the vehicle were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The flight was originating from the Horizon Airport at the time of the accident. According to the surviving co-owner of the vehicle, the carburetor and a starter pull rope were recently replaced on the ultralight by the two owners. The 70-year-old passenger/co-owner of the vehicle had been having heart problems, and as recently as 2 days prior to the accident, fainted and passed out while working on the vehicle with the other owner. He refused to go to the hospital with the responding paramedics for a checkup. He agreed, however, to "ground himself" until his next visit with a cardiologist scheduled for the day after the accident. The surviving owner stated that they asked "a long time friend and experienced pilot who lives on a mobile home at the airport" to fly the ultralight for them. The co-owner who had not been feeling well decided to accompany the private pilot as a "backseat pilot" in the tandem vehicle. The surviving owner stated that several run-ups and high speed taxi checks were conducted by the private pilot prior to the first flight to "get the feel of the machine." The flight departed from runway 16 at the Horizon Airport. The ultralight was obser
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent stall. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in type of vehicle.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
