CEN16LA348

Factual narrative

On August 25, 2016, about 1300 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Piper PA-18-180 airplane, N66898, departed the left side of the runway on landing at United States Air Force Academy Airfield (AFF), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to Big Q Aviation Corporation and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a glider towing operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he just completed a local glider towing operation and was landing on runway 16L. After a routine touchdown and roll out, there was a "large gust of wind" from the right side that lifted the right wing of the airplane. To "regain directional control," the pilot applied rudder, slowly lowered the tailwheel to the ground, and applied pressure to both wheel brakes. He stated that when he applied both wheel brakes, the left brake grabbed "more efficiently" than the right brake and the airplane turned to left and exited the runway. The airplane rotated counterclockwise and the right wheel dug into the soft dirt, and subsequently, the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated that when he began his shift that day, he was advised there "were issues with the steering of the tailwheel." An inspection of the tailwheel by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted the tailwheel functioned properly. The pilot had completed a local glider tow operation and was landing at an airfield at the base of the mountains. He indicated that, after touchdown and the landing roll, a "large gust of wind" came from the right side of the airplane and lifted the right wing. The pilot stated that, to regain directional control, he applied rudder, lowered the tailwheel, and applied pressure to both wheel brakes. He indicated that the left brake grabbed "more efficiently" than the right brake, which caused the airplane to exit the runway and ground loop. The right wing contacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the tailwheel revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather information for the airfield shortly before the accident did not note wind gusts, given the pilot's statement and the surrounding mountainous terrain, it is likely that the pilot lost directional control after encountering a wind gust during the landing roll. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C