On February 2, 1996, a Christen Industries A-1 (registration N2866B) operated by US Department OF Agriculture was involved in an aviation accident near Lakeview, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the pilot to maintain altitude/clearance from the terrain (snow covered, frozen lake). Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's attention being diverted to a perceived safety hazard, and lack of visual cues for pilot perception of… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot conducting an animal control flight over a frozen lake nosed over after the aircraft's wheels contacted the snow-covered surface during a low pass. The pilot was distracted by a gunner's weapon jam.
Incident Overview
An aircraft being used for animal control operations sustained damage after nosing over on a frozen, snow-covered lake. The pilot had been executing a low pass over the lake surface in pursuit of a coyote.
Sequence of Events
During the low pass, the gunner's weapon jammed, causing the pilot to divert his attention toward the direction of the weapon's muzzle, which was pointed at a fuel tank. Immediately thereafter, the aircraft's wheels made contact with the snow-covered surface, leading the aircraft to nose over.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the incident, an overcast sky limited available visual references. The smooth, even surface of the frozen lake lacked features that could enhance the pilot's depth perception.