Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-180 accident near Chetek, Wisconsin, January 6, 2012
On January 6, 2012 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-180, registered N11HY, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Chetek, Wisconsin (Chetek Municipal-Southworth Ai airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s interference with the flight controls, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to climb after an aborted landing. Contributing was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, which resulted in the need to abort the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 2012 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chetek, Wisconsin · Chetek Municipal-Southworth Ai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-180 · all A-1C-180s on the register
- Registration
- N11HY · registry record · serial 114-B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning from a local flight with a passenger seated in the rear seat of the airplane. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, the airplane drifted toward the right edge of the runway due to a strong wind gust from the left. The pilot aborted the landing, and during the climb, without his input, the control stick moved to the right and rearward, and the airplane impacted the ground. The pilot said that he had advised the passenger to remain clear of the control stick. However, it is likely that the passenger did move the control stick during the attempted climb. The pilot's postaccident recommendation was that passengers should be briefed and reminded to keep their feet and legs clear of the control stick. The pilot indicated that there were no preimpact 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 landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Passenger
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 974 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 906 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AIP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y23 Chetek WI at 5:15 pm
- Destination: Y23 Chetek WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,401 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 6:14 pm from RPD, 10 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN12LA129.