Event GAA17CA486

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, in crosswind conditions, he initiated the flare high. Subsequently the airplane bounced and veered to the left. He added that as the airplane was slowing down it ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located at the airport reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 340° at 7 knots. The same weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 320° at 6 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 2. After multiple requests, the pilot failed to submit the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing in crosswind conditions, he initiated the flare high. Subsequently, the airplane bounced and veered to the left. He added that, as the airplane was slowing down, it ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located at the airport reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 340° at 7 knots. The same weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 320° at 6 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 2. After multiple requests, the pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. 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
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation