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GAA18CA156

2018-03-11 · Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CID

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a nose-over.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during a three-point landing, the tailwheel touched down first, and as the main landing gear touched down the airplane bounced. He applied more back pressure on the yoke, and as the airplane settled on the main landing gear it veered to the left. He applied right rudder and brake with no avail. Subsequently, the right wingtip struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the right-wing lift strut, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported, that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 010° at 6 knots. The pilot landed on runway 9. The pilot reported that, during a three-point landing, the tailwheel touched down first, and as the main landing gear touched down the airplane bounced. He applied more back pressure on the yoke, and as the airplane settled on the main landing gear it veered to the left. He applied right rudder and brake to no avail. Subsequently, the right wingtip struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the right-wing lift strut, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 010° at 6 knots. The pilot landed on runway 9. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - 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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA156.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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