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Atlas / NTSB / GAA17CA572

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event GAA17CA572

2017-09-27 Kalispell, Montana, United States Airport · GPI None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N53XC

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CUB CRAFTERS INC CC19-180

Year of manufacture

2017 · 0 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING O-360-C1G (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20170203

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A6B024

Registrant of record

AKBJ LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s inadvertent brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he was inexperienced flying this make and model. The pilot reported that during the landing roll on asphalt, the tundra tire-equipped airplane yawed to the left and he corrected with a "significant" right rudder. He reported that he inadvertently engaged the right toe brake when he applied right rudder, "which led to a very rapid and unsustainable correction." The airplane ground looped to the right and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. 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 was inexperienced flying this make and model. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on asphalt, the tundra tire-equipped airplane yawed to the left, and he corrected with "significant" right rudder. He reported that he inadvertently engaged the right toe brake when he applied right rudder, "which led to a very rapid and unsustainable correction." The airplane ground looped to the right, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. 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-Action/decision-Action-Unnecessary action-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Unintentional use/operation - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA572.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.