N6XJAviat A-12004-09-02 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
None

Aviat A-1S/N: 1386

Summary

On September 02, 2004, a Aviat A-1 (N6XJ) was involved in an incident near Greeley, CO. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper in-flight decision to land on an unimproved surface and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the soft landing surface.

On September 2, 2004, at approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N6XJ, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a landing 12 miles southeast of Greeley, Colorado, along the Platte River. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated from Longmont, Colorado, at approximately 0800.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he had touched down short of his intended landing site and was rolling out when the nose wheel became stuck in the sand.

This incident is documented in NTSB report DEN04LA144. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6XJ.

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, September 2, 2004
NTSB Number
DEN04LA144
Location
Greeley, CO
Event ID
20040921X01473
Coordinates
40.349998, -104.408332
Nearest Airport
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

the pilot's improper in-flight decision to land on an unimproved surface and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the soft landing surface.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
AVIAT
Serial Number
1386
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
A-1HUSK
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Analysis

On September 2, 2004, at approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N6XJ, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a landing 12 miles southeast of Greeley, Colorado, along the Platte River. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated from Longmont, Colorado, at approximately 0800.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he had touched down short of his intended landing site and was rolling out when the nose wheel became stuck in the sand. The pilot stated that the landing surface was a "private unimproved site." The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted near the river. Both wing struts were bent, three ribs in the right wing were crushed and the rudder fin and vertical stabilizer were crushed.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN04LA144