NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA16CA049
Registry · N9872
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
CURTISS WRIGHT TRAVEL AIR B-4000
Year of manufacture
1929 · 86 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR W670 SERIES (250 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19660701
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ADC7C3
Registrant of record
AEROSPACE TRUST MANAGEMENT LLC TRUSTEE
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a ground-loop, and substantial damage to the right wing and wing strut.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane, during the fourth landing roll of the day, the airplane "fish tailed" to the right and he was not able to maintain directional control. The airplane ground looped to the left on the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed and the lower right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane, during the fourth landing roll of the day, the airplane "fish tailed" to the right and he was not able to maintain directional control. The airplane ground looped to the left on the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed and the lower right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented 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
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2015_GAA16CA049.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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