Event GAA17CA231

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing as the tailwheel was settling on the runway, there was an "apparent change in wind direction" and the airplane veered left. He attempted to apply correction with right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the right horizontal stabilizer and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 300° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 2L. The pilot reported that, during landing and as the tailwheel was settling on the runway, there was an "apparent change in wind direction," and the airplane veered left. He attempted to correct by applying right rudder and brake, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the right horizontal stabilizer, and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported that the was wind from 300° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 2L. 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-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation