Haskins CHALLENGER-2 N61881

Summary

On 12 August 2000 at about 04:00 local time, a Haskins CHALLENGER-2 registered N61881 was involved in an accident near Central, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 2000 at 04:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Central, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.4705, -145.1909

Aircraft

Haskins CHALLENGER-2

Registration

N61881

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC00LA101

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the winds, and his intentional attempt to takeoff into the known adverse weather. Factors associated with this accident were the gusty crosswind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot stated he had been waiting for two days for the weather to improve so he could depart. He said the right crosswind was steady at 18 knots, and there were infrequent gusts to 40 knots. He indicated the airplane can be controlled in 20 knot direct crosswinds, and he normally does not fly at wind speeds above that. He said that during the takeoff roll from the 600 feet long by 25 feet wide ridgetop landing area, a gust struck the airplane and pushed it off the left side of the ridge. The airplane dropped off the ridgeline and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.