On December 20, 2004, a Christen Industries A-1 (registration N2898D) operated by Usda, Aphis, Wildlife Services was involved in an aviation accident near Terreton, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a low-altitude coyote hunting flight, the pilot lost elevator control while turning to line up a shot. The aircraft pitched up then nosed down; full power was added before impact, causing substantial damage.
Flight Details
The public-use flight was conducted for the purpose of hunting coyotes. According to the pilot, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of 50 to 100 feet above ground level (AGL). After the gunner shot one of a group of three coyotes and wounded another, the pilot circled the aircraft to the left to line up for another shot at the wounded coyote. The turn was executed at 60 knots with three notches of flaps deployed.
Loss of Control
After completing the left turn, the pilot reported that 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 aircraft contacted the ground.
Impact and Damage
The aircraft struck the ground, resulting in the forward section of the lower fuselage being crushed upward. The main landing gear separated from the airframe, and the right wing separated at the wing root and rotated forward.