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Atlas / NTSB / ERA22LA003

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ERA22LA003

2021-10-01 POTTSTOWN, Pennsylvania, United States Airport · PTW None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N329CC

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CULP JOHN S CULPS SPECL SOPWITH

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A38FF4

Registrant of record

WILLIAMS JAMES C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he recently purchased the experimental, amateur-built, free-castering tailwheel airplane. He had completed nine takeoffs and landings uneventfully on the day of the accident. During the tenth landing, as the tail touched down, the airplane turned left. The pilot tried to correct with full right rudder and right brake application; however, the airplane continued to travel left, and ground looped on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the wreckage by a mechanic did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. 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).

  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_ERA22LA003.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.