Christen Industries, Inc. A-1 accident near Creston, California, April 23, 2006
On April 23, 2006 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Christen Industries, Inc. A-1, registered N96088, was substantially damaged in an accident near Creston, California. 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 an adequate clearance from obstacles while intentionally flying at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2006 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Creston, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries, Inc. A-1
- Registration
- N96088 · registry record · serial 1151
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew to an area where friends were setting up a motorbike course. The pilot said he intended to perform low altitude aerial reconnaissance over the area. While maneuvering, the pilot failed to observe a power line that was between 35 and 38 feet above ground level. The airplane collided with the line and then lost engine power. The pilot made a forced landing in an adjacent rough open field and during rollout the airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 661 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-L1G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBP San Luis Obispo CA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: SBP Creston CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PRB, 10 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.