Event GAA18CA068

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the airplane approached runway 10 in a "significant right crosswind," which diminished when the airplane touched down. The airplane touched down first on the right main wheel and the tailwheel about 70 knots airspeed, and when the left main wheel touched down the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder, left brake and maintained aft stick pressure, however, the inputs were ineffective. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 180° at 7kts. 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the airplane approached runway 10 in a "significant right crosswind," which diminished when the airplane touched down. The airplane touched down first on the right main wheel and the tailwheel about 70 knots airspeed. When the left main wheel touched down, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake and maintained aft stick pressure; however, the inputs were ineffective. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident the wind was from 180° at 7kts. 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
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation