Event GAA16CA010

Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed, the left wing impacted the runway, and the airplane stopped on the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. About the time of the accident at the airport, the wind was reported as 250 degrees true at 3 knots. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed, the left wing impacted the runway, and the airplane stopped on the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. About the time of the accident at the airport, the wind was reported as 250 degrees true at 3 knots. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 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
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Ability to respond/compensate