NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA17CA471
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and the flight instructor’s use of excessive braking, which led to a nose-over.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he and a flight instructor where doing touch-and-go landings as part of a flight review. During the eighth landing, the airplane veered to the right, the flight instructor applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed down. The empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he and the flight instructor were conducting touch-and-go landings as part of a flight review. During the eighth landing, the airplane veered to the right, the flight instructor applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed down. The empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Instructor/check pilot - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Incorrect use/operation - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2017_GAA17CA471.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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