NTSB WPR25LA106 — 2025-02-27 · Heber City, Utah, United States

Current FAA registration · N345HU

Make / Model: AVIAT INC A-1
Year of manufacture: 1996 · 29 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O-320-D2A (160 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20240801
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A3D0A3

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N345HU AVIAT INC A-1 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a collision with a snowbank.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that after departure he flew for over an hour and 15 minutes and then was maneuvering the airplane when he felt pressure in his inner ears. He was unable to equalize the pressure and opted to land back at the airport. He configured the airplane for landing, but was focused on getting relief for his ears. The airplane touched down normally and he manipulated the flight control stick fully aft. The pilot experienced a loss of directional control and the left tire collided with a snowbank. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Snow/ice-Effect on equipment

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_WPR25LA106.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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