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GAA16CA510

2016-09-16 · Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FL37

Current FAA registration · N3771F

Make / Model
GREAT LAKES 2T-1A-2
Engine
LYCOMING AEIO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19770503
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4504D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to avoid the drainage pipe during the landing roll on a private grass airstrip. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reduced forward view from the rear seat.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tandem-seat, tailwheel equipped biplane reported that he was flying from the rear seat which limits his forward view, "especially in the landing configuration". He further reported that during the landing roll on a private grass airstrip, the biplane impacted a drainage pipe, which resulted in a collapsed left landing gear and substantial damage to both lower wings and the lower right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tandem-seat, tailwheel equipped biplane reported that he was flying from the rear seat which limits his forward view, "especially in the landing configuration". He further reported that during the landing roll on a private grass airstrip, the biplane impacted a drainage pipe, which resulted in a collapsed left landing gear and substantial damage to both lower wings and the lower right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
  • F Environmental issues-Task environment-Physical workspace-Visibility-Effect on personnel - F
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA510.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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