Aviat A-1A N141F

Summary

On 8 June 2003 at about 22:30 local time, a Aviat A-1A registered N141F was involved in an accident near Sandpoint, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 2003 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sandpoint, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

48.4264, -116.4214

Aircraft

Aviat A-1A

Registration

N141F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sandpoint → Sandpoint

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03FA096

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a low pass maneuver which resulted in a stall. A related factor was the trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After takeoff, the pilot headed to an area near a pond where a group of people had gathered. He then flew over the group of individuals three times, during each of which the passenger dropped candy to the group below. After he passed over the pond the third time, the pilot continued toward the south over an open field. When he was about one-half way down the field, he made a left descending turn, and then flew north about 300 feet from the east edge of the field, where a pickup truck was proceeding north toward the pond. The aircraft flew past the pickup at a very slow airspeed, while about 40 to 50 feet above the ground. As the aircraft flew past the truck, the passenger waved to friends that were riding in it. After passing by the truck, the pilot continued to the north at the same height. As the aircraft approached the approximately 75 feet high trees at the north end of the field, the pilot banked slightly to the left, pulled the nose up, and increased the engine power significantly. The aircraft then stalled, rolled to the right, and impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. There was no evidence of any engine or flight control abnormalities or anomalies that would have resulted in an engine malfunction or an uncommanded flight control movement.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.