Event GAA15CA275

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he planned to land at a mountain airport that is situated in a valley. He overflew the airport and observed the windsock, which indicated the wind was out the north and then entered the left downwind for runway 19, which has an uphill slope. While on downwind, the airport became obscured by terrain, and then became visible again at the end of the base leg. The pilot reported that when he turned final, he saw that he was high, reduced engine power to idle and increased the flap setting to 40 degrees. The airplane touched down at a higher than normal airspeed and bounced once. The pilot applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported he estimated there was 150 yards of runway remaining from where the airplane came to rest, the usable runway is 3,550 feet long. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, right wing strut, rudder, vertical stabilizer. The Airport Facilities Directory (AFD) recommends landing to the south and taking off to the north when wind allows. The pilot reported that he estimated he landed with a 10 to 15 knot tailwind. The pilot stated that he should have gone around, but believed he could stop on the remaining runway due to the uphill slope. The pilot also reported that he should have flown a stabilized approach and immediately gone around when he saw he was too high on final to safely land. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he planned to land at a mountain airport that is situated in a valley. He overflew the airport and observed the windsock, which indicated the wind was out the north and then entered the left downwind for runway 19, which has an uphill slope. While on downwind, the airport became obscured by terrain, and then became visible again at the end of the base leg. The pilot reported that when he turned final, he saw that he was high, reduced engine power to idle and increased the flap setting to 40 degrees. The airplane touched down at a higher than normal airspeed and bounced once. The pilot applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported he estimated there was 150 yards of runway remaining from where the airplane came to rest, the usable runway is 3,550 feet long. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, right wing strut, rudder, vertical stabilizer. The Airport Facilities Directory (AFD) recommends landing to the south and taking off to the north when wind allows. The pilot reported that he estimated he landed with a 10 to 15 knot tailwind. The pilot stated that he should have gone around, but believed he could stop on the remaining runway due to the uphill slope. The pilot also reported that he should have flown a stabilized approach and immediately gone around when he saw he was too high on final to safely land. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact 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-Surface speed/braking-Incorrect use/operation - C
• F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - F
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained