No fatalities

30 Aug 2011: CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC A-1 — ALEXANDER MARSHALL JAY — Dorris, CA

Dorris, CA, United States

On 30 Aug 2011, a CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC A-1 operated by ALEXANDER MARSHALL JAY was involved in an aviation accident near Dorris, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral aircraft control while taking off with a gusting crosswind. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During touch-and-go practice, a pilot encountered a strong wind gust after lift-off, causing the right wing tip to strike the ground, cartwheeling the airplane, which then caught fire and was consumed.

Event Description

A pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings at a local airport. After the first touchdown, power was applied for takeoff. As the airplane lifted off, a strong wind gust from the left side was encountered. The pilot applied left aileron input, but the right wing tip contacted the ground. The airplane then cartwheeled and came to rest upright. Immediately after coming to a stop, the airplane burst into flames and was entirely consumed by the fire.

Weather Conditions

The closest weather station, located 19 nautical miles from the airport, reported the wind at 280 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from the northwest at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Contributing factors

Causes

Lateral/bank control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation