Young CHALLENGER II N851MY

Summary

On 3 February 2003 at about 22:30 local time, a Young CHALLENGER II registered N851MY was involved in an accident near Huntington, West Virginia, 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

3 February 2003 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Huntington, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Newlon field airport (I41)

Coordinates

38.4606, -82.3136

Aircraft

Young CHALLENGER II

Registration

N851MY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chesapeake → Huntington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD03LA030

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper decision to switch off the ignition on approach and not attaining the proper touchdown point.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the pilot approached the base leg of the traffic pattern for landing, he turned off the ignition, and shut down the engine. His intention was to perform a "dead-stick" landing, and glide the airplane to touchdown. When he realized that the runway could not be reached, and that trees on the approach end of the runway could not be cleared, he restarted the engine. When the engine restarted, he added power, and the pusher-prop configuration of the airplane resulted in a sudden nose-down pitch as thrust was added. The airplane then "nosed-over" into the trees and the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.