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CEN14CA428

2014-08-03 · Frankfort, Michigan, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FKS

Current FAA registration · N80AM

Make / Model
GREAT LAKES 2T-1A-2
Year of manufacture
1980 · 34 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING AEIO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19800528
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AADF90

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing in gusty, crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot lack of recent tail wheel landing experience.

Factual narrative

The pilot maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 33 at the destination airport. Wind was from 230 at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots. During the landing flare, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The nose of the airplane shifted 30 degrees from the runway heading so the pilot applied full power to perform a go-around. The left wing dropped and collided with terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that he did not have recent experience in his tail wheel airplane. In addition, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 33 at the destination airport. Wind was from 230 at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots. During the landing flare, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The nose of the airplane shifted 30 degrees from the runway heading so the pilot applied full power to perform a go-around. The left wing dropped and collided with terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that he did not have recent experience in his tail wheel airplane. In addition, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Ability to respond/compensate
  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Ability to respond/compensate
  • F Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Recent experience w/ equipment-Pilot - F
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_CEN14CA428.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (go-around). All research papers