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Atlas / NTSB / GAA16CA510

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event GAA16CA510

2016-09-16 Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States Airport · FL37 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N3771F

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

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

Registrant of record

CRANE JOHN R

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

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or 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 ↗.