NTSB CEN20CA238 — 2020-06-20 · Cambridge, Ohio, United States

Current FAA registration · N856L

Make / Model: GREAT LAKES 2T-1A
Year of manufacture: 1930 · 90 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19780508
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S ABBE9C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N856L Great Lakes 2T 1A None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in the airplane exiting the runway and striking a ditch.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after landing the tailwheel equipped airplane, he applied brake during the landing roll and the airplane started to turn. He applied rudder to correct but overcorrected and the airplane oscillated and then went off the left side of the runway. The airplane subsequently struck a ditch next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right lower wing and the right horizontal tail and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_CEN20CA238.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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