Event GAA18CA028

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, this was his first solo flight in the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane decelerated and veered to the left. The pilot reported that he over corrected and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane exited the runway and the left wing struck the ground during the right ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. The METAR at the accident airport, reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the sky was clear. The National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aviation Accident Report identified in the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation Section, that this type of accident could have been prevented if he had, "flown with a properly rated pilot (tailwheel endorsed) and practiced landings before flying… solo." 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, this was his first solo flight in the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane decelerated and veered to the left. The pilot reported that he overcorrected, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane exited the runway, and the left wing struck the ground during the right ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the sky was clear. The pilot noted in the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aviation Accident Report Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section that this type of accident could have been prevented if he had "flown with a properly rated pilot (tailwheel endorsed) and practiced landings before flying…solo." 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
• C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Training-Training with equipment-Pilot - C