Aviat A-1C-200 accident near Bluff, Utah, April 24, 2008
On April 24, 2008 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Aviat A-1C-200, registered N134DD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Bluff, Utah (Zahn Bay airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate short-field landing procedure and excessive airspeed that resulted in a landing overrun. Contributing to the accident were gusting unfavorable winds, the short runway, and rocks off the departure end of the strip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2008 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Bluff, Utah · Zahn Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A-1C-200
- Registration
- N134DD · registry record · serial 3015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing at a 1,000-foot-long remote dirt airstrip, the pilot encountered gusting variable winds. He said that while focusing on compensating for those winds, he failed to slow the airplane sufficiently. After touchdown, the airplane ran off the end of the airstrip, encountered rocks, and nosed over onto its back.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area length › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,073 hours in all; 324 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U66 Bluff UT
- Destination: Bluff UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 1,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N134DD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.