Event ERA11CA029

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he had flown the tail-wheeled airplane earlier in the day and decided to go flying again. The pilot stated that he completed the takeoff and traffic pattern "without incident," and flew a "stable approach" to runway 9, compensating for a crosswind by positioning the airplane into a left crab angle. As the airplane approached the runway threshold, the pilot applied right rudder to align it with the runway, as well as left aileron to prevent it from drifting to the right. The pilot stated that he "over corrected" with left aileron and the airplane began to drift to the left. The airplane touched down "firmly," and "in a full stall tail dragger attitude" on the left main landing gear, which bent laterally. As the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane became unstable, veered to the right, and struck a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 040 degrees at 7 knots. According to the pilot, he had completed a takeoff and flew the airplane around the traffic pattern without incident. He configured the airplane on a stable approach to runway 09, compensating for a crosswind by positioning the airplane into a left crab angle. As the airplane approached the runway threshold, the pilot applied right rudder and left aileron to align with the runway centerline and prevent drifting to the right. The pilot stated that he over corrected for the crosswind condition and the airplane began to drift to the left. The airplane touched down hard and the left main landing gear bent laterally. As the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane became unstable and veered to the right. The airplane collided with a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 04 degrees at 7 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation