Christen Industries A1B accident near Hickory, North Carolina, August 20, 2004
On August 20, 2004 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Christen Industries A1B, registered N367SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hickory, North Carolina (Wilson'S Airport USA). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control, during landing roll which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a trailer. The crosswind was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2004 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hickory, North Carolina · Wilson'S Airport USA · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries A1B
- Registration
- N367SA · registry record · serial 2197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was on a local flight when the engine started to run rough. The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing. During the landing roll the pilot stated that the tail wheel became airborne and he lost directional control. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The airplane rolled approximately 20 feet into the grass and collided with a trailer. The pilot stated that during landing roll he encountered wind gusts approximately 13 to 15 knots from approximately 230 degrees. However the 1153 Hickory Regional Airport weather observation facility reported the winds were 210 degrees at 10 knots, no gusts, and 6 statute miles visibility. Examination of the airplane at the wreckage site revealed the left landing gear was separated and the firewall was buckled. Examination of the wreckage at the wreckage site revealed no power plant or flight control problems.
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: 320 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EHO Shelby NC at 3:30 pm
- Destination: E40 Hickory NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from HKY, 5 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N367SA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.