Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot said that as he made his approach, the airplane contacted the top strand of a wire and the right wing clipped a brush pile, resulting in a hard landing. He said the wind was gusty at the time. Both wings were punctured by tree branches and the lift struts and braces were buckled. The nose and left main landing gears had collapsed, buckling the fuselage. There was also a fabric tear in the vertical stabilizer. No pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported by the pilot.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14CA170 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 21, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Crockett, Texas
- Nearest airport
- None (NONE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built CHALLENGER II
- N-number
- N284DS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2013
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.