Amateur-built Aviat ChristEagle II accident near Salida, Colorado, July 24, 2007
On July 24, 2007 at about 2:08 pm local time, a amateur-built Aviat ChristEagle II, registered N28TH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salida, Colorado (Harriet Alexander Field). 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 aircraft control during the landing, causing the airplane to depart the runway and impact the VASIs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2007 · about 2:08 pm local time
- Place
- Salida, Colorado · Harriet Alexander Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Aviat ChristEagle II
- Registration
- N28TH · no longer on the register · serial 6628
- 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, during the landing flare, he encountered a "sink rate higher than desired." He stated that he was just left of the runway centerline. As the airplane contacted the ground, he initiated a go around. The pilot stated that he "added insufficient right rudder" after power was added. The airplane departed the runway surface and impacted the runway VASI system lights, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or its control systems.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANK Salida CO at 1:10 pm
- Destination: ANK Salida CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 7,347 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.73 inHg
- Observation at 2:11 pm from MYP
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.