Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Douglas, Wyoming, May 29, 1999
On May 29, 1999 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II (ultralight), registered N22FE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Douglas, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 aircraft by not adequately correcting for torque/p-factor during initial climb following takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1999 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Douglas, Wyoming
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N22FE · registry record · serial 1163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb following takeoff from a private grass strip, the aircraft's left wing dropped to a bank angle of 10 to 15 degrees. The pilot added full right rudder, but was unable to level the wings. The aircraft continued in a climbing left turn for approximately 30 feet, then began to descend. The airplane struck the ground left wing tip first, followed by the nose and tail wheel. The aircraft continued rotating 270 degrees to the left, and came to rest on a heading of 050 in an open, grassy field. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he did not sufficiently correct for the torque created during the takeoff at slow airspeed.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,274 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,855 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1999; 4 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DC/DI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Douglas WY at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.