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GAA17CA314

2017-05-30 · Logan, Utah, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LGU

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the high placement of his feet on the rudder pedals, which led to the inadvertent application of the brakes.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll the airplane decelerated and began drifting to the right. He added that he applied left rudder, but the airplane continued to the right, so he added more left rudder. The airplane ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the to the right aileron and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the initial lack of rudder response was due to the placement of his feet on the rudder pedals. His feet were too high on the pedal "causing the toe brakes to inadvertently be engaged during landing". The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane decelerated and began drifting to the right. He added that he applied left rudder, but the airplane continued to the right, so he added more left rudder. The airplane ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the initial lack of rudder response was due to the placement of his feet on the rudder pedals. His feet were too high on the pedal, "causing the toe brakes to inadvertently be engaged during 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Rudder control system-Unintentional use/operation - C
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA314.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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