Christen Industries A-1 accident near Linden, New Jersey, May 29, 2006
On May 29, 2006 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Christen Industries A-1, registered N9613Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, New Jersey (Linden 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 aircraft control during the engine run-up. Factor's in the accident were the pilot's diverted attention, and his failure to secure the airplane's left tire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2006 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries A-1
- Registration
- N9613Q · registry record · serial 1174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Christen Industries A-1 reported that he observed the alternator light remain illuminated after start-up. He then shut down the engine, engaged the parking brake, and placed a chock on the airplane's right tire. He did not have a chock for the left tire. He then conducted a high RPM engine run-up. During the engine run-up, the pilot said that he was distracted by an open door, which was slamming back and forth against the airframe, due to the propeller wash. As the pilot attempted to close the door, the airplane turned toward the right, and impacted a hangar. The pilot reported 2,640 hours of total flight experience, which included 1,955 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,640 hours in all; 1,955 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,356 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,890 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ
- Destination: LDJ Linden NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from EWR, 6 miles away
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.