Christen Industries A-1 accident near Loa, UT
On June 1, 2007, a Christen Industries A-1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Loa, UT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 1, 2007
- Place
- Loa, UT
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries A-1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.397°N, 111.821°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070608X00696
Official records · SEA07GA142
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 1, 2007, at 0825 mountain daylight time, a Christen Industries A-1 (Husky), N9602R, collided with rugged terrain approximately 10 statute miles west of Loa, Utah. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was operating the airplane that was owned by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food as a public use flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and the passenger (who was serving as a gunner) were killed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and USDA flight tracking procedures were in effect at the time of the accident. The airplane departed from Richfield Municipal Airport, Richfield, Utah, at 0630. According to USDA personnel, the purpose of the flight was to conduct aerial predator control operations. The operations were conducted through an agreement between the state of Utah and the federal government. The flight had been scheduled as a result of confirmed reports from a local ranch owner that lambs were being attacked and killed by coyotes. A witness, who was employed by the state of Utah as a Predatory Tracker and in radio contact with the pilot and gunner, described the accident sequence. The witness stated that there were multiple coyotes in the area at the time of the accident. He was located on the western slope of a draw that ran from southwest to northeast. He was approximately 200 yards from, and 75 feet lower than the accident site. The witness recalled the airplane flying over him, and then making a left turn to pass behind
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during low altitude maneuvering flight that resulted in a stall. The pilot's decision to operate the airplane at a center of gravity beyond the rear limit, the low altitude of the flight, and the high density altitude were contributing factors.
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Browse: Utah · 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.
