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Atlas / NTSB / GAA15CA264

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event GAA15CA264

2015-09-18 Rock Springs, Wyoming, United States Airport · RKS None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N288MD

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1B

Year of manufacture

2001 · 14 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING O-360 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20130911

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A2ECCA

Registrant of record

DIETL MANFRED

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll with a "considerable" left cross wind, the left wing "rose." He reported that the airplane veered to the left, and ground looped. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during the landing roll with a "considerable" left cross wind, the left wing "rose." He reported that the airplane veered to the left, and ground looped. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. 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 Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_GAA15CA264.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.