Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / GAA16CA112

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event GAA16CA112

2016-01-24 Auburn, Washington, United States Airport · S50 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N9295D

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-18A 150

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

1 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19580707

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S ACE2A4

Registrant of record

STANFORD JAY H

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The failure of the pilot receiving instruction to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a ground-loop.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered left. The pilot receiving instruction applied a "sharp application" to the right brake. The flight instructor further reported that he directed the pilot receiving instruction "off the brakes", a total of three times. As a result of the right brake application, the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered left. The pilot receiving instruction applied a "sharp application" to the right brake. The flight instructor further reported that he directed the pilot receiving instruction "off the brakes", a total of three times. As a result of the right brake application, the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that 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 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_2016_GAA16CA112.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.