Christen A-1 accident near Curtis, NE
On April 5, 2004, a Christen A-1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Curtis, NE. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 5, 2004
- Place
- Curtis, NE
- Aircraft
- Christen A-1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.638°N, 100.471°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040414X00463
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 4, 2004, at 1930 central daylight time, a Christen A-1, N9599B, was destroyed by ground impact and post-impact fire while maneuvering at low altitude after takeoff. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was departing from a grass field near Curtis, Nebraska, on a local flight. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot had flown the airplane from Wallace, Nebraska, to the grass field earlier in the day to attend a family gathering. The passenger who survived the accident reported that the flight was the final flight of the day, and that the pilot intended to fly back to Wallace, Nebraska. The passenger recalled the takeoff but did not remember any details concerning the accident. A witness reported that he watched and heard the pilot start the airplane and conduct a magneto and propeller check. He saw the airplane taxi out and start its takeoff roll to the south. The witness reported, "He came out from behind the shop and was airborne, pulling the plane up into a steep angle of climb. When he was well above the power lines and parallel to the road, the plane stopped climbing and he kicked the tail around and attempted a hammerhead stall. The wind hit the belly and underside of the wings of the plane and he did not have enough altitude to recover and hit the ground. On impact the right landing gear tore off and the plane skidded around on its nose and left gear. It came to rest tail up, right side down." The witne
Probable cause
The pilot's ostentatious display of a "hammerhead stall" during intial climb and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain. A factor was the post impact fire.
More accidents in NE
- Piper PA-32R-300, Oct 16, 1993
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Browse: Nebraska · Christen aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
