Event GAA16CA494

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he crossed midfield, entered the traffic pattern, and then flew down the centerline to "view the runway", but it was "getting dark and difficult to see". The pilot further reported that after touchdown the runway conditions were worse than he had expected and "heavy vegetation pulled" the airplane to the left. The airplane veered off the runway to the left and impacted a group of small pine trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he crossed midfield, entered the traffic pattern, and then flew down the centerline to "view the runway", but it was "getting dark and difficult to see". The pilot further reported that after touchdown the runway conditions were worse than he had expected and "heavy vegetation pulled" the airplane to the left. The airplane veered off the runway to the left and impacted a group of small pine trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident 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-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-(general)-Effect on equipment
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Low light-Effect on personnel
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome