N2898D

On December 20, 2004, approximately 1000 mountain standard time, a Christen Industries A-1 airplane, N2898D, impacted terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering about 8 miles north of Terreton, Idaho. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot and the passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was operated by the Idaho Woolgrowers Association, Boise, Idaho, under contract to the United States Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the public use flight was to hunt coyotes. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Rexburg Madison County Airport, Rexburg, Idaho, at 0815 for the local area flight.

The pilot reported to an NTSB investigator that the airplane was at an altitude of 50 to 100 feet agl. After the gunner shot one of a group of three coyotes and wounded another, he circled the airplane left to line up for another shot at the wounded coyote. The turn was made at 60 knots with three notches of flaps. After completing the left turn, the "aircraft seemed to lose elevator control," the tail pitched up, and the nose went down. The pilot added full power and had just enough time to raise the nose before the airplane hit the ground. The forward section of the lower fuselage was crushed upward. The main landing gear separated, and the right wing separated at the wing root and rotated forward.