Monday, January 31, 2022

Loss of Control in Flight: Christavia Mk 1, Unregistered; fatal accident occurred January 30, 2022 in Oral, Fall River County, South Dakota















Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Rapid City, South Dakota

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

Location: Oral, South Dakota 
Accident Number: CEN22FA109
Date and Time: January 30, 2022, 17:10 Local
Registration: UNREG
Aircraft: Christavia MK1 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On January 30, 2022, about 1710 mountain standard time, an unregistered Christavia MK1 airplane sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Oral, South Dakota. The uncertificated pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot texted him to ask if he, the pilot, could taxi the airplane on the private airstrip, which was located at the friend’s residence. At the time of the pilot’s request, the friend was not at his residence. The friend arrived home about 1645 and observed the pilot taxiing the airplane. About 1700, the friend observed the airplane airborne, and the pilot completed two touch-and-go landings on the private airstrip, then departed to the south.

About 1720, the friend texted the pilot to inquire about his location and there was no response. The friend then departed in his Piper airplane to look for the pilot. The friend located the accident airplane, which had crashed in a field near the pilot’s residence, about 2 miles from the private airstrip.

The friend then returned to his private airstrip to respond to the accident site in his personal vehicle. The friend noted the pilot had the lap belt restraint secured, and the shoulder harness restraint was not used.

There were no witnesses to the accident. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: None Age: 19, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None 
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: None None 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 0 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model)
According to the pilot’s friend and Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot did not hold a pilot certificate and had no previous training or flight experience.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Christavia Registration: UNREG
Model/Series: MK1
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1992
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: None 
Serial Number: 347
Landing Gear Type:
Tailwheel Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 0-200 SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 100 Horsepower
Operator: On file Operating
Certificate(s) Held: None

The airplane was unregistered and did not have an airworthiness certificate. According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot had been working on the kit airplane for several months in preparation to have the airplane certificated and registered.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCUT,5545 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 17:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 328°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 240° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C / -11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Oral, SD 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Oral, SD 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 
Type of Airspace: Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Latitude, Longitude: 43.375175,-103.29778

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left-wing aft spar was separated at the wing root, and the wing was displaced forward. The lower forward fuselage was crushed upward and aft. The outboard right wing displayed leading edge aft crush damage. A ground scar consistent with the wing leading edge was located below the wing. The engine was displaced downward and to the right (see figure). The fixed-pitch propeller was located about 5 ft forward of the main wreckage and was separated at the engine crankshaft flange. The propeller blades displayed forward twisting deformation. 

Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to all of the flight control surfaces. The airframe and engine examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. 


Location: Oral, South Dakota
Accident Number: CEN22FA109
Date and Time: January 30, 2022, 17:10 Local 
Registration: UNREG
Aircraft: Christavia MK1 
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On January 30, 2022, about 1710 mountain standard time, an unregistered Christavia MK1 airplane sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Oral, South Dakota. The uncertificated pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot texted him to ask if he could taxi the airplane on the private airstrip, which was located at the friend’s residence. At the time of the pilot’s request, the friend was not at his residence. The friend arrived home about 1645 and observed the pilot taxing the airplane. About 1700, the friend observed the airplane airborne, and the pilot completed two touch and go landings on the private airstrip, then departed to the south.

About 1720, the friend texted the pilot to inquire about his location and there was no response. The friend then departed in his Piper airplane to look for the pilot. The friend located the accident airplane, which was crashed in a field near the pilot’s residence, about 2 miles from his private airstrip.

The friend then returned to his private airstrip to respond to the accident site in his personal vehicle. The friend noted the pilot had the lap belt restraint secured, and the shoulder harness restraint was not used.

The airplane did not have an airworthiness certificate. According to the friend, the pilot had been working on the kit airplane for several months in preparation to have the airplane certificated and registered.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left wing aft spar was separated at the wing root, and the wing was displaced forward. The lower forward fuselage was crushed upward and aft. The outboard right wing displayed leading edge aft crush damage. The engine was displaced downward and to the left. 

Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to all the flight control surfaces. The fixed-pitch propeller was separated at the engine crankshaft flange and displayed forward twisting deformation to both blades. The airframe and engine examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Christavia 
Registration: UNREGISTERED
Model/Series: MK1 Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCUT, 5545 ft msl 
Observation Time: 17:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C /-11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 240°
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Oral, SD 
Destination: Oral, SD

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Latitude, Longitude: 43.375175,-103.29778

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.