Ultra Flight LLC CHALLENGER accident near Waldron, Missouri, January 21, 2009
On January 21, 2009 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Ultra Flight LLC CHALLENGER, registered N805FA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Waldron, Missouri (Noah'S Ark Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane, the inoperative flight instruments and the pilot's failure to abort the flight due to the inoperative flight instruments.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2009 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Waldron, Missouri · Noah'S Ark Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultra Flight LLC CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N805FA · registry record · serial CH2-1004-CW-2536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the light sport airplane yawed after takeoff and that he was unable to correct for the yaw with rudder control. He further stated that the altimeter, airspeed indicator, and tachometer were not operating and that after reaching a safe altitude he initiated a right turn to return to the airport. He stated that he was then unable to raise the right wing using aileron and rudder inputs and that the passenger had his foot on the right rudder pedal during the flight. He had no further recollection of the accident. The passenger stated that the airplane used most of the runway before lifting off. He stated that once in the air, the pilot tapped his feet which he took as a signal to remove his feet from the rudder pedals. He said that he did not have his feet on the pedals and pulled them back to make it clear that he did not have his feet on the pedals. He stated that the airplane then began a right turn that he thought was rather steep. He stated that he believed the altitude was too low to execute a turn that steep and that the airplane stalled. The airplane impacted a field about 3 miles south of the airport. The airplane's right wing was crushed upward and the nose was crushed rearward indicating that the airplane impacted in a nose-low, right-wing-low attitude. No preimpact anomalies were found with respect to the airframe, engine, or control system. The digital flight instruments could not be evaluated due to impact damage. The pilot listed no flight experience other than the accident flight within the preceding 90 days. Regulations state that to carry passengers, a pilot must have made 3 takeoffs and landings in the same category, class, and type aircraft within the preceding 90 days.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Instrument panel › Inoperative
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,307 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 16,307 as pilot in command; 1,468 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 19, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax SEE BOMBADIER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06MO Waldron MO at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 06MO Waldron MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MCI, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.