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GAA16CA280

2016-06-02 · Prospect Heights, Illinois, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PWK

Current FAA registration · N126RG

Make / Model
STAUDACHER AIRCRAFT INC S-300
Year of manufacture
1998 · 18 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19990623
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A06B7A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing, which resulted in a hard bounced landing, and subsequent left main landing gear collapse, a runway excursion, and a collision with a runway sign.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he landed hard and bounced. The pilot further reported that after the bounce, he knew that the left main landing gear had collapsed, and he held the left wing off of the runway until the airplane slowed and the wing stopped producing lift. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the left and collided with runway signs, which resulted in substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the "½ inch fine thread bolt" on the left main landing gear failed during the bounced landing. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he landed hard and bounced. The pilot further reported that after the bounce, he knew that the left main landing gear had collapsed, and he held the left wing off of the runway until the airplane slowed and the wing stopped producing lift. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the left and collided with runway signs, which resulted in substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the "½ inch fine thread bolt" on the left main landing gear failed during the bounced landing.  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-Pitch control-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Taxiway markings/signage-Contributed to outcome
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Capability exceeded

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA280.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (runway excursion). All research papers