GAA18CA169

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tundra tire and tailwheel-equipped airplane was making a night landing at a high-altitude airport. He reported that, to mitigate the crosswind component, he decided to land from right to left on the 100-foot-wide runway. He added that the wheel landing was normal, but the airplane would not return to centerline from the left side of the runway. He added power to go around, but the left main wheel sheared off, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 19 knots, gusting 31 knots. The airplane landed on runway 27. The airplane's operating handbook stated that the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 13 mph/11 knots. The calculated crosswind component using steady winds is 15 knots, using gust winds is 24 knots. The pilot of the tundra-tire- and tailwheel-equipped airplane was making a night landing at a high-altitude airport. He reported that, to mitigate the crosswind component, he decided to land from right to left on the 100-ft-wide runway. He added that the wheel landing was normal, but the airplane would not return to centerline from the left side of the runway. He added power to go around, but the left main wheel sheared off, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 19 knots, gusting 31 knots. The airplane landed on runway 27. The airplane's operating handbook stated that the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 13 mph/11 knots. The calculated crosswind component using steady winds was 15 knots, using gusting winds, it was 24 knots. 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Ability to respond/compensate
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Ability to respond/compensate
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on operation