Buck/Crawford/Crawford CHRISTAVIA MK-1 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 18, 2023
On June 18, 2023, a 1993 Buck/Crawford/Crawford CHRISTAVIA MK-1, registered N5075T, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The instructor pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a wing impacting a runway light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2023
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buck/Crawford/Crawford CHRISTAVIA MK-1, built 1993
- Registration
- N5075T · registry record · serial 237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that he was conducting tailwheel training in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During takeoff with a left crosswind, the instructor prompted the pilot receiving training to focus on keeping left aileron control input to compensate for the crosswind during departure. During the takeoff roll the flight instructor realized the airplane had drifted to the right side of the runway. He took control of the airplane, banked the airplane left, and added left rudder, and the left wing struck a runway light, resulting in substantial damage to the wing and aileron. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,096 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,043 as pilot in command; 8 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: powered-lift; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 473 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 26, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 903 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 24, 2023; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 SERIES (piston); 907 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PABV Chugiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PALH
Weather report (METAR): PALH 180153Z AUTO 28005KT 10SM OVC060 16/06 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP192 T01610061 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 26, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.