Event GAA17CA512

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he landed on the asphalt surface of runway 4 with full flaps and about 40 knots airspeed. During the landing roll, a wind gust struck the left side of the airplane, and the airplane ground-looped to the left, and the right-wing strut collided with the 7,000ft runway distance marker. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing strut and the wing spar. The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9kts. No wind gusts were reported at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he landed on the asphalt surface of runway 4 with full flaps and about 40 knots airspeed. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, a wind gust struck the airplane's left side, the airplane ground looped to the left, and the right-wing strut collided with the 7,000-ft runway distance marker. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing strut and the wing spar. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9 knots. No wind gusts were reported at the time of the accident. 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 Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C