GAA16CA028

Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the landing roll at 70 knots, on runway 30, the airplane encountered a powerful gust of wind. He reported that the gust caused the tail to lift off of the runway, and the right wing impacted the grass safety area located to the right of the concrete runway. The pilot reported that after the right wing impacted the ground, the airplane was "catapulted" into the air about 10 feet, and came to rest inverted about 30 feet to the right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to wings, fuselage, and empennage. At the time of the accident, the wind at the aerodrome was reported as 210 degrees true at 9 knots. In the hours preceding the accident, the aerodrome reported wind from the south-west with gusts up to 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the landing roll at 70 knots, on runway 30, the airplane encountered a powerful gust of wind. He reported that the gust caused the tail to lift off of the runway, and the right wing impacted the grass safety area located to the right of the concrete runway. The pilot reported that after the right wing impacted the ground, the airplane was "catapulted" into the air about 10 feet, and came to rest inverted about 30 feet to the right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to wings, fuselage, and empennage. At the time of the accident, the wind at the aerodrome was reported as 210 degrees true at 9 knots. In the hours preceding the accident, the aerodrome reported wind from the south-west with gusts up to 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Crosswind correction-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on equipment