Amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE accident near Bell City, Louisiana, February 14, 2016
On February 14, 2016 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1985 amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE, registered N960RF, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bell City, Louisiana (Bruce Beard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 during takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2016 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bell City, Louisiana · Bruce Beard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHRISTEN EAGLE II, built 1985
- Registration
- N960RF · registry record · serial FOXWORTHY 0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped biplane reported that during takeoff he encountered an "unexpected wind gust." Subsequently, the airplane departed the grass runway to the left into "muddy" terrain. The pilot reported that he reduced the power to idle during the runway excursion, but the airplane sunk into the mud and nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the top left wing. About the time of the accident 8 nautical miles northwest of the destination airport, an automated weather observing system reported wind conditions of 170 degrees true at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 837 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 765 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 22, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 241.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 12, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,620 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1D (piston); 241 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52LA Bell City LA at 5:35 pm
- Destination: ORG Orange TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,650 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,900 ft; a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KLCH, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.