Amateur-built CHALLENGER-2 accident near Central, Alaska, August 12, 2000
On August 12, 2000 at about 4:00 am local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER-2, registered N61881, was substantially damaged in an accident near Central, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the winds, and his intentional attempt to takeoff into the known adverse weather. Factors associated with this accident were the gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2000 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Central, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER-2 CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N61881 · registry record · serial 1092-0897
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated he had been waiting for two days for the weather to improve so he could depart. He said the right crosswind was steady at 18 knots, and there were infrequent gusts to 40 knots. He indicated the airplane can be controlled in 20 knot direct crosswinds, and he normally does not fly at wind speeds above that. He said that during the takeoff roll from the 600 feet long by 25 feet wide ridgetop landing area, a gust struck the airplane and pushed it off the left side of the ridge. The airplane dropped off the ridgeline and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 1,341 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CEM AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 18 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.