Christen Industries A-1 accident near Chetek, Wisconsin, September 15, 2002
On September 15, 2002 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Christen Industries A-1, registered N9598C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chetek, Wisconsin (Private airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, and his failure to maintain clearance from the utility pole. A factor was the utility pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2002 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chetek, Wisconsin · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries A-1
- Registration
- N9598C · no longer on the register · serial 1101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged when it struck a powerline pole during takeoff from a private turf airstrip. The pilot stated that the airplane accellerated normally. He said: "At approximate time of liftoff of main wheels the aircraft for unknown reason began to drift off runway centerline to the right. Pilot attempted to correct drift with control inputs to which aircraft did not respond." The airplane's right wing subsequently impacted a powerline pole. A postaccident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,224 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,011 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 5, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 447 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2002; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chetek WI at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from KEAU, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.