Event GAA17CA364

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the three-point touchdown the airplane "immediately veered left" and he applied full right rudder. He added that he subsequently "applied power," but as he did so, the right main landing gear collapsed as the airplane ground looped counter-clockwise on the runway. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, at the accident airport about the time of the accident, reported the wind from 090° at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 15. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the three-point touchdown, the airplane "immediately veered left," and he applied full right rudder. He added that he subsequently "applied power," but as he did so, the right main landing gear collapsed as the airplane ground looped counter-clockwise on the runway. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 090° at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 15. 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-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation