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GAA17CA564

2017-09-28 · Skagit, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport BVS

N43JM has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (CIRRUS DESIGN SR20, built 2020), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from airport lighting during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the high-performance, tailwheel-equipped bi-plane, he landed on a turf airstrip which he described as, "long and wide and there was no wind." During the landing roll, he piloted the airplane along the right edge of the runway, and the lower right wing struck a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) control box. The pilot reported that the accident was caused by a lack of situational awareness during the landing roll. The PAPI lights are identified in the airport facility directory. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right-wing spar. 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 high-performance, tailwheel-equipped biplane, he landed on a turf airstrip which he described as "long and wide." He added that "there was no wind." During the landing roll, he taxied the biplane along the right edge of the runway, and the lower right wing struck a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) control box. The pilot reported that the accident was caused by a lack of situational awareness during the landing roll. The PAPI lights were identified in the airport facility directory. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right-wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Runway/taxi/approach light-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA564.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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